We will not be abondoned, though much may be required of us. Our experience and the world may not be the greatest witnesses of peace, but, again, look a little deeper and you might be surprised at the strength and perservance of the light. Let us take great solace in Our Lord's promises. "In this distress, - for then I had never had a single vision, - these Thy words alone were enough to remove it, and give me perfect peace: 'Be not afraid, my daughter: it is I and I will not abandon thee. In light of everyday trials, and even in light of deep distress, we can find peace in the resiliance of truth and goodness. This is so important to remember! Peace comes from remembering that the battle with death has been fought and won by Our Lord Jesus Christ. Look for the heroes-look for God in the wreckage and you will find Him glimmering through the stories of many souls that rose up to protect and aide those around them even at their own risk and self-sacrifice. But even devastating evil cannot comepletely wipe out the goodness and beauty of love. Still, how can we look on a tragic incident and see God's providence? One way is to dwell on the stories of heroism and courage that arise in crisis. God does not take free will away from those who would abuse it. We know that God does not cause these tragedies, but that they are allowed to happen in accordance with our gift of free will. It is challenging to understand why tragedies happen in our world. "Reflect upon the providence and wisdom of God in all created things and praise Him in them all." If we could all strive for deeper relationship with God, we would naturally release many of the worries, fears, and anxieties that separate us from one another and cause conflict between individuals, and, on a larger scale, between nations. Many of these are legitimate and valid, but some demand time and energy that would be better spent elsewhere. "The closer one approaches to God, the simpler one becomes." Let us never submit to the lie that violence is victorious. Let us pray to be instruments of peace even in moments when it seems the battle is lost. And yet, suffering and death, pain and loss, will all continue to be part of our experience. Cultivated in each of us, it could bring about great change in our world. Such a peace radiates out into our families and our communities. So often it starts here: with internal peace-a peace with Our Lord and a deep sense of rest in the creation He has made us. We sometimes lose sight of our own purpose and how we are meant to play a part in bringing peace to the world. "May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us." Christ has is no stranger to suffering and loss, let us turn to him with our questions and our prayers, praying always "Jesus, we trust in you." 2. We must continue to trust in God's wisdom and mercy and persevere in prayer for all involved. This is a great challenge when we witness such vicious acts of violence and attacks against innocent life in the world. "Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. Theresa of Avila-a beloved saint and mystic. In order to help us keep our eye on this reality and the eternal peace that we can only acheive through Christ, here are 14 beautiful quotes on peace from St. We also accept that peace begins in our own hearts, our own families, and then radiates out into the world. We accept that suffering and death are part of this journey, but that the ultimate reality is the Resurrection. As Christians, we accept that we live in a fallen world and the cross is a reality. With the recent violence and tragedy in Paris, Beirut, and throughout the world, it can be challenging to continue to hope for peace in the world-the peace of Christ, the Prince of Peace.
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