Reflection at Evensong
Prayer for Peace, Tuesday, May 4, 2010
by Sister Rose Celeste O’Connell, OP

Taken from a Reflection by Lonnie Graves, Director of Women’s Ministries of the Christian Church:

“So, where does peace begin? Peace begins with each individual and one’s own self-examination of what peace means in our lives. In the Bible, from Genesis to Revelations the word “peace” in referenced 247 times. Peace is something that from the beginning, generations have been searching for…fighting for…seeking. Peace is also fragile. It must be aligned with faith, hope and love.

Peace is a gift from God and so often we take peace for granted, or sometimes miss its blessing as we live our lives each day. I liken it to a fine china plate. If it is handles with great care it can be shared in good company and filled with good things. If it falls and breaks into many pieces, its repair can seem hopeless. In the same manner, one slip and so quickly peace can seem to leave us.

As with the china plate, when peace seems to shatter and there seems to be few options, we still have choices. We can sweep up all the pieces and throw them away, or gather the broken pieces and carefully take time to find where the pieces match, and of course the plate, though put back together, will not be exactly the same, but it will be whole. Though it may not hold another meal, it can be displayed as a model and reminder that we must take care with things that are precious.”

As I read this reflection, I had to ask myself – how precious is peace to me? Do I value peace over being right and righteous? What am I willing to sacrifice to maintain and further peace? Do I let peace go when things don’t go my way?

Does my language – even in jest – reflect peace or violence? I know I have found on my lips statements like “I could just kill him or her! What a jerk! How stupid can you be?” These words are certainly not peace producing vocabulary, but words that cause division and discord.

Let us take a moment to reflect on what peace means to each one of us here. (Pause for reflection)