One Christmas season, an American journalist visited Calcutta to meet Mother Teresa. As he observed the tender care her Missionary Sisters of Charity provided to destitute, abandoned invalids, he was overcome with emotion.
During the interview, he asked, “Mother, what are you doing here?”
She simply replied, “I’m trying to help these poor people.”
“Just helping them?” he exclaimed.
“Yes, I want these poor people to smile with joy before they die.”
Then, he made a request. “Mother do you have any Christmas message to give to my people back home?”
Mother Teresa smiled and said, “Ask them to help others to smile before they die,” then added, “Peace begins with a gentle smile.”
Hundreds of years before Christ’s birth, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; He is named wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:6). When the prophecy came to pass and Jesus was born at last, the angels declared: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2: 14).
After His resurrection Jesus renewed this pledge. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you.” (John 14: 27).
Peace is at the heart of Christian faith. All the pleasures of this world cannot give lasting solace. The source of perfect peace can be found only in the one, perfect person—the word made flesh, born into poverty in Bethlehem. Our culture says that when you feel empty you should do more, eat more or give more but Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
When I am at peace with God I am at peace with myself. Saint Paul says: “Let the peace of God rule in your heart” (Colossians 3:15). The word for peace in Hebrew, Shalom, is not the absence of problems or conflicts. Rather, it is the harmony and peace one enjoys internally. Jesus is Emmanuel (which means God with us). His presence with us in our everyday trials can bring us a sense of peace in the midst of turmoil. He guides us, forgives us, comforts us and grants us the confidence to overcome our adversities.
We must in turn offer forgiveness, guidance and comfort to others. When you amass resentments and accumulate grudges against people you confirm them as your enemies. If you follow Jesus’ command to love your enemies instead, you take away the very energy that feeds hatred. Hatred is like drinking a bottle of poison and expecting the other person to die.
“Live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
Let us pray:
Come, Lord Jesus! Come into our world; into our lives; and purify our longings.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come to free us from our compulsions and sins.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come into our relationships, our work, our sufferings.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come into our troubled world. Amen.
