Dear friends in Christ

The liturgy of this Sunday focuses our thoughts and prayers on peace. The Prophet Isaiah in the first reading announces that the coming of the Messiah will be signalled by a great peace on the earth. In the Gospel of the Mass Jesus tells those whom He sends out to make their first greeting to the homes they enter, a greeting of peace. However, we might wonder how this has not been achieved as we look across the centuries and see so much conflict, disharmony and lack of peace. In our own times, and especially in the twentieth century, we have witnessed so much inhumanity and wickedness. The war in Europe at the present time fills our hearts with anguish and anxiety. The beginning of peace is the presence of Christ in the hearts of His followers. St Paul affirms that Christ Himself is our peace (Eph.2:14). We know that our evil thoughts and intentions bring us disquiet and this should make us realise where the origins of peace lay. There is no peace without repentance and contrition. There is no peace unless we are deeply sincere with ourselves and acknowledge those things in our lives that separate us from God and our fellow human beings. There is no peace unless we can confront ourselves in a daily act of self-examination and sorrow. We have so many sources of peace available to us such as the Sacrament of Confession and prayer before the Tabernacle. Ask Mary, Regina Pacis...Queen of Peace, to calm our anxieties and bring us to Christ, the Prince of Peace.

With my prayers and blessings

Msgr Kevin Hale