THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

October 8, 2006

The Good News

...Peace Be With You!

Peace be with you. What a wonderful greeting; what a beautiful thought; what a great offer. Jesus said this to His apostles and He continues to say it to each of us. He often greeted the apostles with these words and sometimes elaborated on them. For example, in St. John’s gospel as He prepared the apostles for His upcoming passion and death, He says: “Peace I leave to you, My own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is My gift to you.” (John 14:27)

Yes, the peace which Jesus offers us truly leads us to fulfillment. We were created by God out of His tremendous love. He desired us to share in this love. Thus He made us in such a fashion that we can freely receive and share His love. This is true peace. It is not just the absence of violence and warfare. It is much more than that. The peace which Jesus gives us is a fulfilling calmness.  The peace of Jesus is a reality that floods our mind, our heart and our soul. It is all embracing. This peace is love.

Unfortunately, the lives of many people are devoid of the peace that Jesus offers. It’s not that He doesn't gift us. Rather we, too often, cut    ourselves from Him. God never forces us to accept His gifts. He offers them to us and waits for our response. The gift of peace is not a static commodity.  It is an energizing reality that gives us a grasp and realization of our true human nature. Peace, the gift of God, leads us to true fulfillment.

It is not static for as Pope John Paul II told us so clearly: “If you want peace, work for justice.”  This is the reason the Church teaches the truths that are necessary for a better society.  This is the reason the Church takes such strong stands to uphold the dignity of all human life and the centrality of God in our human reality.  

Unfortunately, there are many who try to seek peace and a better society on their own. They remove God from the equation and therefore their attempts fail.  There is no true peace, no genuine justice, no ultimate answer unless we anchor ourselves in the eternal. God alone can give us the fulfillment of our human life.  It is God who created us and it is He who redeemed us and He alone who can give us eternal life. Jesus said that the peace He gives us is true peace, not the kind the world offers.  It is this true peace of Christ for which we long and for which we labor — “If you want peace, work for justice.”

Like the Church Universal, our Archdiocese strives to assist us in the work of justice to be able to receive the peace of Christ. Take for example, the workshop that is offered at the Catholic Pastoral Center next Saturday, Oct. 14.

This very practical workshop on domestic violence is of import to every one of us. Whether we ourselves have or are suffering from domestic violence or abuse, or whether we ourselves ever perpetrated discord, this workshop will be of interest and help. If we are first responders to assist others, are we prepared to do that effectively?

This workshop on domestic violence is based on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops statement, “When I call for help.” It is sponsored by our Archdiocese but will employ many speakers from the wider civic and religious communities.

Yes, “If you want peace, work for justice.” This workshop can be an answer to your prayer and a key to open the door to peace. Come next Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at our Catholic Pastoral Center, 7501 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City.