SEVEN TYPES OF PEACE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my thoughts this morning is, “Seven Types of Peace.”

Today’s gospel has Jesus saying something he often says  in the Gospel of John, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” [John 14: 27]

Last night, as I was looking at my notes for this text from the Gospel of John, I found something I had discovered somewhere along the line that I thought was peaceful and practical.

CRISTOVAM BUARQUE

Someone named Cristovam Buarque wrote an article, “There Are Seven Types of Peace.” Then he has a sub-title: “Brazil Needs to Make Each of Them.” [1]

He discovered these 7 types of peace - not in Brazil - but amongst the Aymara People who live in the Andes in Western Bolivia, Southern Peru and Northern Chile - and especially around and near Lake Titicaca - which borders Peru and Bolivia.

GESTURES

To make this homily or explanation work you have to do some work; you have to make some gestures with your hands this morning. This might seem Hokey Pokey. Relax. It's not too complicated. Be at peace with me today.  No problem. We Catholics know how to move our hands during Mass - to make the sign of the cross, to receive a blessing, to fold our hands, to make the sign of peace, to reach out our hands or tongue to receive Holy Communion.

So I’m going to ask you to follow directions - and to make some gestures with your hands and to do this at 8 AM in the morning. I’m going to describe the type of peace that is being talked and then give a blessing which I formulated from the description of these 7 types of peace I found in the article.

FIRST TYPE  IS INNER PEACE

So can you put your hand on the top of your head: “May we have peace with ourselves - peace today with our body, with our health, with our mind, with our work, because without peace with ourselves for starters, we will not be at peace with others. Amen.”

SECOND TYPE OF PEACE IS UPWARD DIRECTED

So raise your hand towards the sky - so as to be at peace with the above. “May we be at peace with God above - with all those who have gone before us who are with God - with the Spiritual. Amen.”

THIRD TYPE OF PEACE IS DIRECTED FORWARDS

Point your hand forwards. We put our past behind us. The Aymara people put their past in front of them - because they know it. It’s been lived and experience. So,  “May we have peace with our past - that we let go and be forgiven of mistakes. Let guilt, regrets, debts, be taken care of. Amen.”

FOURTH TYPE OF PEACE IS DIRECTED BACKWARDS

Point your hand backwards.  “May we have peace with our future, peaceful, not nervous, about time always ticking, with what we can’t see, uncertainty, and what is to come. Amen.”

FIFTH TYPE OF PEACE IS DIRECTED TO THE LEFT

Point your hand to your left.  This is peace with those close to you - those around you - close friends, but family especially. “May we have peace with all those in our family - with those who are close to us - especially with those who take away the feeling of peace at times. Amen.”

SIXTH TYPE OF PEACE IS TOWARDS THE RIGHT

Point your hand to the right. This is peace with neighbors and those we see and interact with. “May we have peace with  those across the street - those in the other car - those at the other desk - those  in the next section at work - especially with those we experience who bring friction and frustration and the unknown at times. Amen.”

SEVENTH TYPE OF PEACE IS POINTED DOWNWARDS

Point downwards. This seventh and final peace is directed towards the earth from which we came and towards which we will return. “May we have peace with the earth on which we walk - the source of our sustenance. When storms or drought comes or the earth shakes or quakes, may we stay calm and peaceful.  Amen.” [2]

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Notes:


[1] "There Are Seven Types of Peace. Brazil Needs to Make Each of Them," written by Cristovam Buarque. I found this on line from back in 2007, but I'm not sure where this was written. I want to give Cristovam Buarque credit for this "study". I found that I had jotted down the following about who he is: Cristovam Buarque has a Ph.D. in economics. He is a PDT senator for the Federal District and was Governor of the Federal District (1995-98) and Minister of Education (2003-04). He is the current president of the Senate Education Commission. Last year he was a presidential candidate. 




[2]  This blessing could be used as a daily family morning or evening prayer. A mom or dad could stand there and give this blessing to their family - with all doing the gestures indicated. 


[3] Peace Prayer of St. Francis on top is sung by Sarah McLachlan.