A peace not as the world gives it
In a contest to produce the perfect picture of peace, artists from everywhere took part. The winning picture brought a gasp from the crowd. A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice. Stormy clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain.
In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones. (from Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King).
Peace came to the earth at the moment when Jesus Christ uttered the words, “It is finished.”
Did you ever hear the heart of God break? “I have given the beloved of my soul into the hand of the enemy. Man can do no worse than he has already done. It is finished.”
The power of death had done its worst. The song of triumph began. Tens of thousands of angels sang in triumph! “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying, "To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13). (from "It Is Finished" Sermon delivered at Colgate Rochester Divinity School, 1958).
We are at peace when we abide in God’s love: “Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:9–11).
We are at peace when we keep God’s commandments: “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (John 14:21).
Human frailty tempts us to enjoy little forbidden pleasures, but that does not bring peace: “No one is more miserable than the Christian who for a time hedges in his obedience. He does not love sin enough to enjoy its pleasures, and he does not love Christ enough to relish holiness… He is a man most to be pitied.” (D.A. Carson, theologian).
Jesus left a gift with us, his sacramental forgiveness in confession: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22–23).
The Catholic Church interprets this as Jesus granting special power to priests to absolve sins through confession.
G.K. Chesterton leaves this warning to those lacking the humility to confess: “The morbid thing is NOT to confess. The morbid thing is to conceal your sins and let them eat away at your soul, which is exactly the state of most people in today’s highly civilized communities.”
Saints frequent the sacrament of reconciliation!
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