Mic 5:2-5a; Heb. 10:5-10; LK1:39-45
Today's First Reading from the Book of Micah
announced the arrival of the promised Messiah. And he is the symbol of
peace. When Jesus was born the first
message the angels announced was “peace on earth”. Ever since man estranged
himself from God, he lost his peace - Peace within himself, Peace with the
nature and peace with God. And man’s search for peace continues through out
ages.
One
day some people asked a very powerful wizard how to stop all wars and bloodshed
on the planet and establish peace.
– It is simple, – he said. — I will destroy all weapons on the Earth, and nobody will be able to fight anymore.
– It
would be great! –people exclaimed.
The
magic wand’s wave – and this was done.
There was
peace on the planet for a few days, while the majority of those who were prone
to fight, sought and could not find a weapon. When they understood they lost it
forever, they made spears from tree branches and started to fight again.
When
the wizard heard this bad news, he said:
– Do
not worry. I will destroy all small trees, so that they will not be able to
fight.
After
a few days of futile search for small trees, suitable for making spears,
rebellious people started to cut giant trees, make batons from them, and the bloodshed
started again. The Wizard destroyed all big trees. Then People made sling and
began to throw stones at each other. It was necessary to destroy the stones,
too. And then peace seekers began to worry: all trees disappeared; there was no
metal and stone. How to live, what to eat now? There would be no vegetation
soon, and people disappear from earth soon. No, this is not the right solution.
The
Wizard became confused:
– I
do not know how to find a solution. I would have destroyed all humanity, but,
unfortunately, it is not in my power!
The
peace seekers fell into despair; they did not know what to do. And then one
clever kid turned to the Wizard.
– I
know what you should do. Let people feel, how others perceive their actions. If
one person hurt someone, let him feel the same pain, and if he brings joy to
someone, let him feel the same joy. So no one will hurt each other, because he
will feel the pain immediately too and would have to stop.
All
people were inspired with the greatness of the kid’s thought.
We all ask for peace in far away lands, but at the same
time, more often than not, we don’t have peace at home. Peace is a state of
mind, and there is no point asking for peace in the world if, at the same time,
we are constantly in a war mind state with one another: we give strangers a bad
look, we ignore other human beings around us, we argue with strangers while
driving and sometimes physical fights break out for the most trivial
things. We have to make peace within
ourselves first. Then within our family. Peace with our neighbors and peace
with the strangers we encounter outside.
Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no
noise or trouble. Peace means to be in the midst of all the chaos and still be
calm in the heart. The real peace is the state of mind, not the state of the
surroundings. It comes from a mindset that is ready to accept others and serve
others.
There is a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” For centuries, the greatest thinkers have suggested the same thing: Happiness is found in helping others. “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” said Winston Churchill.
Gospels present Mary as the perfect example of this. "Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill
country to visit Elizabeth” When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child
leaped in her womb and she cried out, “blessed are you among women.”
Mary was an instrument to bring the prince of peace
into this world. Today the same mission is given to each one of us. To be an
instrument of peace. There are hundreds of men who stood for peace. The world
recognizes them as blessed men and women.
Making someone else feel good is more rewarding and
longer-lasting than anything else. So building up a reserve of happiness through
acts of service could increase our inner peace. And that will be our best
preparation to welcome the Prince of Peace.
Satish