The Path to Peace

Where is peace? Has its seed fallen among the briers, a prey to other plants that stifled it? Or has it remained on the fertile soil sown by ‘Poor man of heaven’? The soil represents our hearts that need the transforming power of the Living Word and Bread—our transforming union with Jesus Christ. The world of pomp and power resists the daring example shown by the Poor man of Nazareth who taught by word and example the supremacy of a life of poverty and humility.

This is the only genuine path to peace. The path that Jesus took to save us—His being humbled and then exalted, his dying and rising—is also the path of salvation from the vengeful destructive spirit of hatred that annihilates peace. Let us meet Him devotedly at the Cross, where we learn to accept suffering with love and joy, and offer this in union with our Lord who leads us to victory. “Everyone who humbles himself shall be exalted but the one who exalts himself shall be humbled” (Lk. 14:11, 18:14).

May Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows and of Peace lead us closer to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ that we may become united with Him; in the forgetfulness of self, we strive to become humble and see the image of God in everyone that challenges us to win hearts to Jesus and Mary through the poverty of the Cross. “Blessed are ye poor for yours is the kingdom of heaven” (Lk. 6:20).