Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ. [Philippians 4:6–7]
Peace is among the fruits that God gives to us by way of the Holy Spirit. Truly, I want to believe that the quiet calmness I feel deep, deep down inside myself is the peace of God. However, that fruit tends to sour in my poor, nervous stomach!
Try as I do to maintain my inner peace during these crazy times, I cannot hold onto it. Or maybe I just do not trust it. I know I must be careful. Doubts and distrust tend to feed our anxieties, obscuring our faith when we need it the most. Certainly, the challenges we face today are like no other in recent history.
Peace in Jesus and Mary
In the midst of these stressful times comes the season of Christmas. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as we pray for peace on earth and good will to all. Are we having difficulty seeing how God is answering our prayers during this pandemic and growing disunity in our world? God answers us in Jesus—”for he is our peace” [Ephesians 2:14].
The Prince of Peace comes to us to reconcile and unite us with God the Father through the grace of the Holy Spirit. If we are open to this internal transformation, we obtain peace of mind and heart to protect our daily lives. While our pains and problems will not disappear, the peace of God shields us from despair. “Despair is contrary to God’s goodness, to his justice—for the Lord is faithful to his promises—and to his mercy” [CCC 2091].
If we still feel anxious, let us turn to Mary, the Queen of Peace. With peace of mind and heart, Mary handled the most difficult and painful challenges in her earthly life without despairing. The peace of God was with Mary always—protecting her as she shared and continues to share in her Son’s redemptive work. With Mary’s loving intercession, we can experience the peace only our Lord can give.
Peace and Good Will
Truly, the peace of God is rooted in His merciful love made manifest in Jesus Christ. When we welcome Christ into our lives, the peace of our Lord is reflected in our words, works, and how we treat one another. In other words, we can share divine peace through our daily living by our good will, fortified by our Lord. After all, can any of us add a single moment to our life-span by worrying [Matthew 6:27]? Surely worrying does not do my stomach any good.
Therefore, let not anxiety obscure our contemplation of Mary giving birth to our Savior. With baby Jesus in our hearts and minds, let us pray for: peace by reconciling with God, peace in our families through God-centered living, peace in our communities by way of forgiveness, and ultimately peace in our world. May the fruits of the Holy Spirit continue to nourish and strengthen us in the days ahead. Thanks be to God. Amen!
