Looking for peace in the right place

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Once again, we celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace, a prince whose kingdom is not of this world...a prince whose wealth is a spiritual legacy: Jesus, who said to His apostles, "I leave you peace, my peace I give you."

This peace, which is so evasive and so difficult to achieve, cannot be guaranteed unless, as Pope John XXIII describes in his encyclical letter, "Pacem in Terris," we faithfully observe the established order in the universe and in human beings.

If we selfishly use and abuse the balance that God established; if societies continue to contribute to the disharmony and dichotomy between the peoples of our planet, denying them the inherent rights we all have as human beings, peace will be always just out of reach of even its most determined advocates.

As is daily paraded before us in the media, our world is unsettled, with outbursts of conflict, war, retaliation, suspicion, disregard for the dignity and sanctity of the human person from conception to a natural death, and a selfish "what's-in-it-for-me?" mentality. This is a cancer that jeopardizes our efforts for peace and must be excised.

Such destructive attitudes should not be the norm, with "random acts of kindness" the exception. We want no more walls to break down, no more enemies to fear, no more threats of terrorism, no more casualties of war and no more collateral fatalities!

New links of trust must be forged between people, between nations, as the old ones of mistrust rust away. It is the only way the "peace and good will" heralded by the angels so long ago can truly reign in the hearts of humankind and restore the balance of a divinely established order between ourselves and the whole of creation.

We may feel disconcerted by the scope of such a challenge, but in the words of St. Therese of Lisieux, "Each small task of everyday life is part of the total harmony of the universe." In accepting this premise, we can broaden our concept of a peacemaker. We can, as individuals make a difference.

We must integrate faith with action. Expressing similar sentiments, Madame Curie observed, "You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful."

Therefore, during this joyful season, let us lift up our hearts in the hope that "one small step" of ours toward peace can become a "giant leap" for all humankind, so, with the Psalmist, we can celebrate the justice that will flourish in our time and the fullness of peace forever.

May this Christmas season bring to your home, your hearth, your hearts and your table the peace our Redeemer came to bring, and may its warmth radiate to embrace your neighbor, your community, your city and your state-- its ripples eventually reaching the farthest boundaries of our world. All journeys must begin with the first "small step."

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Howard J. Hubbard

Bishop of Albany

(12/18/03) [[In-content Ad]]