CULTIVATE  PEACE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Cultivate Peace.”

We’re back to Ordinary Time - the 7^th Monday - and we have some great readings for today.

So some thoughts about cultivating peace….

The last sentence in today’s first reading from James 3:13-18 has James writing, “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.”

CULTIVATE

I don’t know if any of you are farmers. However, I’m sure we all have grown something - whether it’s a garden with gardinias or zucinni.

I remember as a little boy spotting those fingernail size black pits in a red watermelon and planting them - not knowing the difference between pits and seeds or what have you.  Surprise in time I saw green blades of new life.

Did I do any cultivation? Well, I watered and watched.

That was the extent of my cultivating watermelons. I don’t remember ever getting a watermelon in a clay dark orange brown flower pot as a result.

Cultivating - watering - raking - caring for - keeping rabbits away from the tomotato plants or what have you.

CULTIVATING PEACE

The title of this homily is, “Cultivating Peace.”

So I typed into google, “Cultivating Peace” and found lots of suggestions.

One blog gave 40 suggestions.

One blog gave 5 suggestions.

Another gave 7 suggestions or practices.

I have seen on various banners the words of Pope Paul VI, “If you want peace, work for justice.”

So if we want to cultivate peace, there are lots of practical steps we can follow.

For starters, Pope Paul the VI’s words from 1972 - on a world day for peace is a good place to start.

In his letter for that day, he urges respect for every person.

In his letter he stresses the vision to see every person and to help every person to see themselves as just that: a person - who is sacred - unique - to be recognized - to be seen and heard - and that they realize they are also responsible for this. When someone puts themselves down, we can challenge them and say, “Oh no, you can’t escape that easily. You have thoughts, feelings, experiences, learnings, observations, skills and you have to use them all.”

In his letter he stresses that every person has the right to express themselves.

We can cultivate those goals at every doorway find ourselves at - with other people  - in every conversation - in every setting we find ourselves in - with the people we’re with.

“Rita, you haven’t said anything yet. What’s your take on this?”

“Wait a second, it doesn’t seem fair - when we ________ “ [You fill in the blank.]

I remember hearing a good talk about peace. The speaker drew a pie and then cut it up saying that everyone is allowed to speak their piece, that everyone gets a piece of the pie and everyone a piece of the action - otherwise we won’t have peace.

I noticed on these blog pieces about peace the value of breathing, pausing, walking, plants, music, communication, listening, the outdoors, sunlight, exercise, etc. etc. etc.

Working with and on a few of them are ways of cultivating peace.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Here in today’s gospel, Jesus takes the time to be with this boy who has serious problems.

Presence - what’s that Woody Allen quote about just showing up? “Eighty percent of success is showing up

Jesus asks questions.  That’s another great way of cultivating peace.

I love the question from Jesus: “How long has this been happening to him.”

I can picture any of us saying that about strange behavior.

Jesus says with his action the need to be with each other.

Jesus says with his words, the need for faith and prayer.

Jesus did his part to help this kid.

CONCLUSION

Want peace, work for it.

Want peace, say the Peace Prayer attributed to Saint Francis, every day. Then put into practice all those ways the prayer states for being an instrument of the Lord’s peace.

Want peace, do the do of fairness - or what you see as the best way to cultivate peace. Just do it.