We are in one of the holiest times in the Christian calendar. We are being invited yet again to ponder the mystery of God made flesh, God who would walk among the people and instruct them in the ways of love.
In honor of a God who loves us so, in thanksgiving for a God who gave us life and showed us, through Jesus, how to love, I would like to invite all of you to participate in a Novena For Peace as part of our Advent observances this year. From December 16th to December 24th (or any nine days of your choosing during the holiday season) I would ask you to set aside 10 minutes of your day to sit in quite reflection of how you have added to (or taken away from) peace in the last 24 hours and pray that you might be an instrument of peace in your family and in this violent world.
During your reflections, please consider that if we can’t make peace in our own families, with the people closest to us, can we really expect to make peace in our communities, our nation or our world? We are all so convinced of the rightness of our beliefs, our actions, and our motivations. But we seldom spend much time thinking about how our beliefs, actions, or motivations are being experienced by others – those close to us and those we consider enemies. We indeed might be right, righteous, and justified, but do we love? And can we honestly bless our enemies (or even those who just make us angry), and pray for those who curse us?
If you think this a worthwhile endeavor, I ask you to pass these reflection questions and prayers on to others you think might join us in trying to create peace. In the last weeks and months, I have personally experienced the miracles that occur when the prayers of a few are joined together to seek healing and love. Just think of the possibilities if Christians around the world spent just ten minutes a day focusing all their energy, all their love, and all their hope, on peace. Please join me.
Opening prayer:
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
Oh, Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Questions for reflection:
In what ways have I been an instrument of peace today?
Where was God in it?
What robs me of my peace?
Where do I find God in that?
What enemy needs my blessing?
How will I surrender to God to allow that?
Closing prayers:
Oh, God, you are the author of all life, all love, all peace. I give thanks and praise to you. In this season of remembering your of gifts of Love, I ask to join my heart and voice with all your children who seek to create peace in our lives, in our families, in our communities and in our world. I deeply desire to be an instrument of your peace. I seek the courage and strength to act as Jesus did, so that I can forgive those who hurt me and return blessings for curses. Help me to walk each day conscious of your Presence in me and in all others so that I might fearlessly live out your command to love others as you have loved me.
We pray as Jesus prayed:
Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.
Amen
Christmas Blessings.