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Fidelity Yields Peace

One of the greatest fruits produced from a life lived in fidelity to Christ Jesus and the teachings of the Catholic Church is peace. If peace is lacking in our lives as Catholics, in our societies, in the Church, and in the world, then we would do well to ask ourselves in what ways we have ceased to be faithful to the Lord, to rely on Him in everything, and to remember His goodness.

Faithfulness to God should bring us peace because, by living according to God’s commands, we allow Him to be in charge of our lives, trusting that He wants for us all the good things that St. Paul describes in his letter to the Philippians: what is true, honorable, just, pure, gracious, excellent, praiseworthy. It is when we cease to allow God to be God for us that we find ourselves like the “wild grapes” of the first reading, left to their own destruction, not because God (the owner of the vineyard) does not care, but because He respects our free will.

It is always good to take a few moments each day to reflect on our lives and see where we have tried to be faithful to God and where we have failed. Then, we should trustingly offer both our strivings and our failures to the Lord, awaiting His mercy and asking for His assistance.

Just as the owner of the vineyard in the Gospel sent His son, so did God the Father send us His Son Jesus to help us along our way. We are not alone. We have God on our side. We have Christ Who strengthens and accompanies us. God sees our efforts and our good will, and He will make up for what is lacking if necessary. Let us – like children – trust in God, be faithful to Him, and await His help and intervention in our families, societies, Church, and world. And let our hearts remain in peace because what people “has a God as near to them as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon Him?” (Deut 4:7).

Yours in Christ,
Father Arthur

Readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Lectionary 139