Scripture reminds us of God's comfort and our call to be messengers of God's peace
by Sister Jane Riha
The readings for this Sunday are beautiful. Any one of them leads to deep reflection and prayer. Woven throughout the readings, is the message of God’s loving care, God’s desire to give us peace, love and comfort even in the midst of suffering. Each Fourth of July, we honor our country with that same deep desire that our country and our world would overcome violence, war and misery of any kind with love and peace. We sing “God Bless America” but as Americans and as followers of Jesus, we know that message has to include other countries, other cultures, the rich and the poor alike.
The prevailing word is “peace”. The first reading is all about the comfort of a mother. The peace that comes to a child with the comfort of a mother’s presence is the comfort God desires for each of us. A child rests peacefully in the arms of a loving mother. This same peace God desires for us.
In the Gospel, the disciples spread the peace and love of God on their mission journeys. They were also looking for peaceful persons. As a disciple and follower of Jesus, you might want to describe for yourself what peace, peaceful, or peaceable really means to you. Perhaps the words of this song will resonate with you. “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”
Well said. God Bless us all.