A New Year Prayer, A Resolution for Peace On
Earth,
A Reflection for January 1 2017
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFM
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus
Order Franciscans of Mercy
I based this reflection on
the words to a once very popular prayer/song “Let There Be Peace on Earth”
written and copy written in 1955by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson.
In this time of world turmoil
and after one of the most contentious elections in history which has left our
country seemingly divided, I feel we need to focus on the issues that have been
tearing nations, churches and people apart and make a resolution to do our part
to change the direction the world seems to be headed
Every day the news is
filled with reports throughout the world, of strife, conflicts over territory
and in some countries genocide, poverty, and starvation caused by Religious
intolerance.
A radical group of
individuals calling themselves Muslims are causing innocent people, especially
Christians to suffer and die all over the globe as I mentioned in the Christmas
Message.
These individuals are so
far away from being true Muslims than Heaven is from Hell and I believe they
are minions of the Prince of Darkness.
The Islamic Faith does not
tolerate the slaughter of innocent people; in fact it specifically forbids it.
The true followers of the
Islamic Faith worship the same God as Christians and Jews, the God of Isaiah,
Abraham, Moses, Isaac, David the Father of Our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ.
Did not Christ Himself say
“Let those among you that is without sin, cast the first stone” We all
are sinners to one degree or another; we need to acknowledge that and be
repentant for our own misdeeds and assume we are better than the others.
We need especially to turn
too God and ask him to inspire world leaders to find a way to bring about peace
on earth, Good will toward all person, and end to poverty, injustice,
homelessness, hunger and guide researchers to find cures for Cancer,
Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, HIV/Aids, and all the other
depilating diseases that devastate so many lives.
The words of this
wonderful prayer/song are very poignant.
It not only makes a request but it points out that it all must start
with each of us individually; “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin
with me.” This is a lesson to us that we cannot wait for others to set the
ball in motion; we need it to begin within ourselves.
We need to make a move in
our own lives to settle any disagreements we might have with members of our own
family, friends, neighbors or employees.
If each and every person
would work toward the goal of peace in their own live the result would be like
a snowball rolling down a very steep hill, it would keep building and growing
larger and faster as it traveled along.
Each individual action would cause a similar reaction from others and it
could spread throughout the world.
The second line in this
message written in 1955 is also powerful as it directs us to the source of all
peace; “Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God
as our Father.” In order to achieve
any kind of lasting and meaningful peace we need to turn to the source,
Almighty God. We need to place Him at
the center of our lives and live according to the way His beloved son, Jesus
Christ instructed us. We need to look
around us and be thankful for the gifts we have been given and stop grumbling
about the things we think we need. We
need to come to the realization that we are all children of the same God and
therefore brothers and sisters of each other as the prayer/song explains; “brothers
all are we, Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.”
As we contemplate what
kind of resolution we are going to make to change our lives in this new year I
suggest that each of us place this as number one and that we make sure that we
keep this resolution even if all the others are forgotten as the year
progresses; “Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now, With every
step I take, let this be my solemn vow, To take each moment and live each
moment in peace eternally.”.
Peace is not something to
be wished for, it is something one has to work hard to achieve. If these words “ Let there be peace on
earth, and let it begin with me!” are to ever be realized we all have to
work together to make it a reality.
We cannot be satisfied as
long as there is one child of God that is being oppressed because social or
economic status, suffering discrimination for any reason, dying because of lack
of proper food or medicine, homeless due to inadequate affordable housing, or
being violently murdered over drugs or gang disputes. As children of God and followers of Jesus
Christ we are called to live the Gospel message not just preach it.
Let us resolve to begin
this New Year with one single purpose, to do our part in bringing about changes
that will make the prayer/songs words a reality.
Let
there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.
Let
peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me! AMEN
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me! AMEN
I am also adding the
prayer of the seraphic father of our order and all the Franciscan orders, Saint
Francis which helps us to understand the things we need to do to achieve a true
and lasting peace.
Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand, to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. AMEN
when there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand, to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. AMEN
May God fill
each and every one with an abundance of His mercy, infinite love and grace
throughout the new year and grant you the courage and strength to do what is
necessary to bring about changes on this planet so that there will be a new
beginning for all and a time of peace and reconciliation.
