Prayer for Personal Peace

Prayer for Personal Peace

We could make a long list of challenges we face: our planet and the future of life on earth in light of climate change, stark poverty, strife and violence among ethnic groups, religions, and countries, concerns about our nation and the course we are charting, and personal worries about family, health, and the future. Jesus tells us to be people of peace, but warns us that the world cannot give us this peace. Our choices might seem to be:
1) withdrawing from the world,
2) trying to ignore what is happening around us and only reacting to the unpleasant when necessary, or
3) engaging and trying to make a positive difference.

The Gospel and our Father Francis call us to this third option, and yet the balance in the Franciscan life is to be an active contemplative. Father Francis modeled the importance of a deep life of prayer. Prayer is essential in grounding us in God and receiving the strength and guidance we need to be a bearer of peace in a troubled world.

 
Here is a beautiful little prayer attributed to St. Francis:
 

You must have peace in your hearts.
Let no one be provoked to anger or scandal by you,
But may they be drawn to peace and good will,
To kindness and concord through your gentleness.
We have been called to heal wounds,
To bring together what has fallen apart,
and to bring home those who have lost their way.

 
The only way to have peace in our hearts to share with others is to turn to God in prayer.