Daily Devotion:

Title: Crying Out for Peace

Date: May 02, 2012

From Anthony de Mello’s book, Taking Flight --
 
In Ireland a Catholic priest, a Protestant minister, and a Jewish rabbi engaged in a heated theological discussion. 
 
Suddenly, an angel appeared and said, “God sends you blessings.  Make one wish for peace and your wish will be fulfilled.”
 
The minister said, “Let every Catholic disappear from our lovely island.  Then peace will reign supreme.”
 
The priest said, “Let there not be a single Protestant left on our sacred Irish soil.  That’s sure to bring peace.”
 
“And you, Rabbi?” said the angel. “Do you have a wish?”
 
“No,” said the rabbi. “Just grant the wishes of these two men and I will be pleased.”
 
Many of us pray for peace.  But peace doesn’t start somewhere out there in war-torn places.  Peace starts here, in our own hearts. 
 
Is it any wonder that nations don’t get along too well? Or when siblings under the same roof, and neighbors across fences fight, squabble, and sometimes are violent? 
 
The peace we seek for the world isn’t ever going to come until each of us has a piece of God’s peace. 
 
Yes, we should continue to pray for peace in troubled places, but let us also pray that God’s peace, the peace that passes all understanding, lives inside our souls.

 
Let’s Pray:  God of Peace, bless us with Your inner peace that we can’t understand through reason, but can feel and sense that it comes from You.  Bring peace to the hearts of the people. Amen.
 
Here’s a Thought:  God’s peace be upon you.