Justice and Peace

THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS
for September 22nd – 23rd, 2014
Memorial of St. Pio of Pietrelcina today

Liturgical texts here

THE readings the past two days speak of the justice and care that is due our neighbour in the way that God deems someone to be just. And that can be summarized essentially in the commandment of Jesus:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:31)

This simple statement can and should radically alter the way you treat your neighbour today. And this is very simple to do. Imagine yourself without clean clothing or not enough food; imagine yourself jobless and depressed; imagine yourself alone or grieving, misunderstood or afraid… and how would you want others to respond to you? Go then and do this to others.

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but the dwelling of the just he blesses… He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard. (from Monday’s and Tuesday’s first readings)

And again,

My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it. (Tuesday’s Gospel)

But there is something more we can and must offer our neighbour—and that is the peace of Christ. Did you know that Jesus came not only to save us from sin but to bring peace to our hearts and to the world, right now, not just in Heaven? The first proclamation of the angels at Christ’s birth was:

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:14)

And when He had risen from the dead, the first proclamation of Jesus Himself was:

Peace be with you. (John 20:19)

Jesus wants us to be at peace. And this means much more than the absence of war. One can sit in absolute calm in the middle of nature and not be at peace. True peace is a heart that is at peace with God. And when we are, the ministry of Jesus can flow through us in such a way that we not only bring justice, but peace to our brothers wounds—both exterior and interior wounds. 

So are you at peace today? The degree to which our hearts are disturbed is often the degree to which we cease to bring justice and peace to others. Disruption of our own peace is often a sign of self-love, of a lack of trust in God and unhealthy attachment to creatures, objects, or our situation. Sin is the greatest robber of serenity.

On this memorial of St. Pio, a man who constantly battled with Satan and those in the Church who opposed his mystical gifts, let us examine our hearts in the light of his wisdom so that we can truly enter the peace of Christ who says again to us today:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)

Peace is simplicity of spirit, serenity of mind, quietness of soul, and the bond of love. Peace is the order, the harmony within us. It is the continuous contentment that comes from the testimony of a clear conscience. It is the holy joy of a heart in which God reigns. Peace is the road to perfection—or rather, perfection is found in peace. The devil, who knows all of this quite well, applies all his efforts to make us lose our peace. Let us be on high alert against the least sign of turmoil, and as soon as we notice we have fallen into discouragement, let us have recourse to God with filial confidence and complete abandonment of ourselves to him. Every instance of turmoil in us is very displeasing to Jesus, because it is always connected to some imperfection in us that has its origin in egotism or self love. —Padre Pio’s Spiritual Direction for Every Day, Gianluigi Pasquale, p. 202

Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved. —St. Seraphim of Sarov