Magnificent peace

God’s love that surpasses all human bounds, going beyond respecting the rights of each human being, is certain to penetrate the human soul with ‘Magnificent Peace’ which is the fruit of the total giving of self as shown in Jesus’ life and Passion. The soul wide-opened or ‘animus magnus’ shares in Jesus’ mission of spreading good, ‘overcoming evil with good’ (cf. Rom 12:21). St. Paul put it well: “Live in peace with one another. Do not return evil for evil, but let everyone see your good will. Do not avenge yourselves, but let God be the one who punishes” (Rom 12: 16-19). Jesus from the Cross showed that only love and forgiveness can drive out evil from the heart of the person created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26).

Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia (Joy of Love) says: “Do not let the day end without making peace in your family” (n. 104). If one remains committed to God as our loving Father who disciplines His children for the sake of good amidst an evil world, and loves each person with an unconditional love, then this will bear fruit in peace, the ‘Pax Christi’ (peace of Christ). We see how Jesus’ heart is full of self-giving love in communion with the Father. In this communion, the Christian likewise absorbs the love of the Father that changes the bad into good, and enemies into friends, by the grace of the Spirit.

Let the trials, conflicts and pains we experience in life open our minds and hearts to the Father’s way of training us in Jesus’ example of trust in the Father’s will. “For, whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he receives. All correction is painful at the moment, rather than pleasant; later it brings the fruit of peace, that is, holiness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb 12:6;11). May our families be so inundated by God’s love that each member will communicate the peace that shares God’s love and mercy to other communities in joyfully living one’s faith following Christ’s path of sacrifice.