Lord, Make Me A Peacemake

True peace cannot exist without trust in each other. A peaceful heart is necessary to create peace in our world. St. Francis of Assisi understood this, and his love for all was his gift of peacefulness toward everyone. 

Throughout history, people have echoed the phrase "we live in terrible times". Unfortunately, the more we have tried to be peacemakers using man's tools, the worse things have become in our world. We are not supposed to keep peace by ensuring a balance of armaments. Rather, we should create and keep peace by keeping Christ, the great Peacemaker, who confirmed and made complete the message of the ancient prophets. 

We are all God's children, and his son's great gift of peace is meant to be shared by all, believers and non-believers alike. In John 14:27, Jesus makes it clear that the peace he gives us is not the same as the peace the world gives. God's peace is strong and everlasting. We have seen many peaces come and go in the world, but the Peace of Christ never passes away. Through this peace, we have unity with others. We recognize our oneness with and responsibility to each other. We have undivided peace and love.ake me an instrument of your love, mercy, and forgiveness. Help me be open to your will.

Beloved Father,

May I be a keeper of peace within myself so that I can share peace with others. Please give me the words to encourage respect for all. May I always have a willing heart to help those who cannot help themselves.

Help me to share the knowledge that helping through our own efforts is more rewarding than mandating help as an enforcement placed upon others.

Together, we can create a world of peace and unity. Please help us to understand what one can do for the least of us by offering even the smallest act of kindness to another.

Please help us to understand that it isn't necessarily the poverty of the body that suffers more but rather a poverty of the spirit that spreads hate, fear, and violence in the world. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.