Peace!

Mark Shea

by Mark Shea on January 15, 2008 · 0 comments

Psalm 122:6-9

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
"May they prosper who love you!
Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers!"
For my brethren and companions' sake
I will say, "Peace be within you!"
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good.

G.K. Chesterton says that there is no record of morality beginning with people saying "I will not hit you if you do not hit me."  Rather, it began with people saying "We must not hit each other in the Holy Place."  In short, when you seek the Kingdom and its righteousness, you get earthly goods thrown into the bargain.  When you seek earthly goods, you don't even get that.  That is why the Psalmist seeks the peace of Jerusalem "for the sake of the house of the LORD our God."  His goal is not merely earthly peace.  His goal is to please God, which is simple justice.  We, who have seen such terrible lack of peace visited on our own towers, must remember that the only way to achieve real peace will be spiritual, not merely technical, rearmament against the sin that so easily entangles and destroys.  Today seek the peace of Jerusalem by seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Mark Shea

By Mark Shea

Mark P. Shea is a Catholic author, blogger, and speaker.

Peace

by CE Editors on September 28, 2005



by Henry Vaughan (1621-1695)

My soul, there is a country

Far beyond the stars

Where stands a winged sentry

All skilful in the wars:

There, above noise and danger,

Sweet peace sits crowned with smiles,

And One born in a manger

Commands the beauteous files.

He is thy gracious friend,

And (O my soul, awake!)

Did in pure love descend

To die here for thy sake.

If thou canst get but thither,

There grows the flower of peace,

The rose that cannot wither,

Thy fortress, and thy ease.

Leave then thy foolish ranges;

For none can thee secure

But One, who never changes,

Thy God, thy life, thy cure.

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