The Sunday Sermon Archive

On earth peace to men of good will. _ St. Luke 2: 14.

The peace that Jesus brought from Heaven is threefold: Peace with God, Peace with men, and Peace with ourselves.

Because of the sin of Adam we all come into this world as enemies of God. The gates of Heaven were closed against us. In order to restore peace with God it is necessary that we make restitution for the offense of original sin. Yet, no matter how much men may work, because we are finite creatures we are never able to make satisfactory reparation. Because it was an offense against the infinite majesty of God it was necessary that an infinite satisfaction should be made. Therefore only God could make reparation, but the offense was by men so therefore a man must make the reparation; thus, the necessity of the Son of God becoming man to atone for our sins.

This peace with God is further hindered by our own personal sins, which necessitates that we make our own reparations and sacrifices and unite them with the merits of Jesus Christ so that we may once again be at peace with God.

We must hate and detest what God hates and detests. God hates and detests all that is wicked; so must we. There is no peace for the wicked. We must develop the attitude of the saints so that we would rather die than to offend God. Many deceive themselves if they think that they enjoy peace and will not give up sinful association, abandon a bad habit, make restitution for injustices, forgive offenses, etc. Though at their devotions or in the performance of a good work, they may experience certain pleasant consoling feelings in their heart, it is nevertheless not true peace; they do not possess the love and grace of God; consequently they are not at peace, for this is obtained only by true repentance and conversion.

We must likewise love and do that which God loves and wills. We must keep the commandments, the precepts of the Church, and zealously fulfill the duties of our religion: regularly assist at public worship, hear the word of God, pray devoutly, and frequently receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Blessed Eucharist. Lastly the will of God is that we fulfill those duties which our station of life and our particular circumstances impose upon us. Superiors should be solicitous for the temporal and spiritual welfare of their inferiors, inferiors should honor, love and obey their superiors; the rich should give alms to the poor, and the poor be content in their straitened circumstances.

To have peace with other men we must have patience with their weaknesses. We should forgive as we would wish to be forgiven. We must be sympathetic with those who suffer adversity, and truly show an interest in their prospering. When someone finds a sympathetic soul their joy becomes sweeter and the afflictions become more tolerable. As St. Paul says: "Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep." _ Rom. 12: 15. We must be friendly in our conduct and especially in our language. "A sweet word multiplieth friends" (Ecclus. 6:5) and in the Book of Proverbs (15:1): "A mild answer breaketh wrath, but a harsh word stirreth up fury." In our conversations and associations with others we must avoid everything repulsive and offensive, and not display a gloomy, angry countenance, treat no one harshly and contemptuously, and guard against bitter, harsh and injurious words. If we must correct someone let us do so in such a way that an affectionate love may be discernible even in our severity and reprehension. Lastly, let us guard against slander and detraction.

To preserve this peace with ourselves we must have a good conscience. A good conscience is a perpetual feast. A man who carries about a bad conscience with him wherever he goes has no rest or peace. His days upon earth may be happy, ubt he has no peace; the reproaches of his conscience are ever tormenting him and give him no rest. Sinners are their own tormentors; God's justice cannot punish them here on earth more effectually than by delivering them up to the tortures of conscience. They may appear as if they had rest, they may even glory in peace, but it is only an infatuation, a blindness. They dream they have peace, and whilst dreaming they are swiftly gliding into Hell. Those who have a good conscience, though they may be in want of what the world esteems and loves, though they may have to suffer much, they are always calm and contented. The thought: "I have nothing with which to reproach myself, no injustice lies on my conscience," is a sweet consolation to them in all the tribulations of life.

Let us make the resolution today to preserve with the greatest care this threefold peace which Jesus Christ, our new-born Savior brought from Heaven to earth, or if we do not already posses it, let us work with the greatest zeal to obtain it. Let us endeavor to make our will one with the Divine Will; hate and detest what God hates and detests; love and perform what He loves and wills, and we will have peace with Him. Bear patently with the frailties of our fellow-men, share with them their joys and sorrows, be friendly to them, and guard against slander and detraction, and we will enjoy peace with our neighbor. We must be solicitous for a good conscience: control our passions and disorderly inclinations, conquer temptations, overcome the tempter, lead a good, pious, Christian life, and we will have peace with ourselves. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." _ St. Matt. 5:9.

Franciscan Benefactor Seraph Subscription Electronic copy of the December Seraph ($2.00)in Adobe Acrabat format. Vocations Have you remembered God?