By Fr. Rob Kinnally
I’ve been thinking and praying a lot about how much of our world is at war. As I watched footage of the missiles soaring the night skies in the lands where Jesus walked the earth, I was profoundly saddened. My thoughts raced: so many innocent lives lost, so many young people who dreamed of a bright future living in fear, so many without a place to safely lay their head at night, so many anxious souls wondering about tomorrow. Then I thought about our brothers and sisters in Ukraine whose tragedies seem to be overshadowed by the wars and threats of war in other places in the world. Trying to balance it all as our nation prepares to vote, and contemplating the restlessness that our community feels each day as we face our own challenges and worries, I must confess that I was overwhelmed. I worried about November 5 and the need for prayers for peace on that day and the days to follow. I worried about the great gift of freedom that could be compromised by an errant decision. I worried about all things great and small. But then it was as if God sent a bolt of holy lightening combined with a strong practical “Snap out of it!” What followed were words from St. John’s Gospel that helped tremendously: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John16:33) Suddenly I felt splendidly overcome with I can only describe as a “chord of grace:” hope comes in embracing the truth that God travels with us in all of our messes and in all of our worry about all of our worlds: the world of family, friends, work, faith community, and the larger world. I was consoled by a prayer-sparked understanding that true peace can only be found in God who writes peace into the story of our upside-down world.
The God-made-Man, Jesus, born in a messy manger, the savior of the world, is exactly who He was promised to be – a savior. He saves us daily from fear, doubt, anxiety, restlessness, and the messes that we create. He saves us from losing hope that His Father’s plan for us is good and life-giving. Saint Paul challenges us to trust in that loving plan and “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15) Yes, in time of worry we are called to be thankful. That doesn’t seem logical, but giving thanks to God moves us to acknowledge that God blesses us every day with small gifts of delight and assistance that might have gone unnoticed if we had not taken the time to reflect.
I am a new person since that time of reflection, and I was renewed and refreshed in my understanding that God is larger than any problem the world or I could create. I am thankful for that moment, and I pray on the truth that God is everywhere – even in the messes – loving us through the challenges and the joys of being in the world. So it’s not that I don’t worry about the world anymore, I just acknowledge that God and I worry together about the world, and I trust that in His time and in His wisdom, we will know a true and lasting peace.
I offer these helpful words from St. Paul’s Letter to the Phillipians (4:6-9):
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
May peace reign in your heart, your home, and in the world. Amen!
Fr. Rob Kinnally of Saint Aloysius Parish
