THERE are many things happening in the world and in our lives today that trouble us. They are the constant killings of innocent people in many countries, the never-ending violence in cities, the unstoppable corruption in governments, and the division and differences among people in politics and religion.
They are the verbal attacks and anger of netizens on social media and the hypocrisy, indecency and lack of integrity of national leaders. They are our anxieties about personal health and the death of our beloved ones. They are the hard decisions that we have to make and the amount of work that we have to finish. Whatever these troubles are, they rob us of peace.
Yes, each one of us longs for peace—peace in our hearts; peace in our homes; peace in the world.
This is why the words and the images of the Old Testament Reading from the Book of Prophet Isaiah stir in us this earnest longing:
“On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom…Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.”
The good news is that this immense longing for peace is God’s desire for all of us too. That’s why He sent us his Son, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace—the Promise of the Old Testament who came to bring reconciliation and hope to the whole world. His words and his life-death-and-resurrection would be the paths to peace, only if people would embrace and believe in them.
John the Baptist proclaimed this Good News in the Gospel this Sunday:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
The Holy Spirit is like a bud that blossomed from the intensity of Jesus’ love for his Father and the Father’s love for him. It’s the Spirit that he left the Church so that justice and peace would reign in our hearts and in the world. It’s the Spirit that would calm our fears, strengthen our hearts, and grant us wisdom and understanding.
But how do we get hold of His Spirit? God’s response would be by a life of faith and prayer; through our daily acts of letting go of our anxieties and fears; and through surrendering of ourselves and the worldly matters to His reign and power in our lives.
The reason we don’t feel peace is because we have not completely entrusted our lives and all our concerns to God. This takes a great deal of faith and contemplation on the mighty love and care of God for each of us. The reason we don’t have peace is because of inflated egos and self-worship.
During this season of Advent, may we all long for peace that life in the Holy Spirit can give us!
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From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of ImmAaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
