Peace

Reflections

I vow never to repay evil with evil. 

I will only seek out a man for good. 

(Dead Sea Scrolls 1QS 10:17-18)

Put away your sword. 

All, who use a sword will die by a sword.

(Matthew 26: 52)

Don't take anything personally.

Nothing others do is because of you.

What others say and do is a projection of their own reality.

When you are immune to the opinions

and actions of others,

you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

(Don Miguel Ruiz)

No one is my enemy

No one is a foreigner

With all I am at peace

God within us renders us

Incapable of hate and prejudice.

(Sikh Scripture on Peace)

Scripture Reading

May all beings all live happily and safe

And may their hearts rejoice within themselves

Whatever there may be with breath of life,

Whether they be frail or very strong,

Without exception, be they long or short,

Or middle-sized, or be they big or small, 

Or thick, or visible, or invisible,

Or whether they dwell far or they dwell near,

Those that are here, those seeking to exist-

May beings all rejoice within themselves.

Let no one bring about another's ruin

And not despise in any way or place,

Let them not wish each other any ill

From provocation or from enmity.

-The Buddha, Sutta Nipata

Moment of Reflection


Scripture Reading

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you

and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

(Matthew 11:28-30)

Sermon

Peace of mind is something that we all want.  We all want to be able to rest, to not have to worry, to feel free to enjoy life, family, friends, work, church, hobbies, entertainment, etc.  We want to be able to enjoy ourselves and not be burdened down with worries that rob us of vigor, life, and purpose.

Sometimes when we can'tfind peace of mind, we get depressed.  We often get angry and lash out at God or someone else near to you.

What do you do to get peace?  I mean real peace in your life.  Where do you start?  What do you do?

Well, the best place to start is with God (1)

Memory Verse

The worshippers of the All-Merciful

are they who tread gently upon the earth,

and when the ignorant address them, they reply,

"Peace!"

(Qur'an 25:63)

Closing Prayer

We pray for the power to be gentle,

the strength to be forgiving; the patience to be understanding;

and the endurance to accept the consequences to holding

to what we believe to be right.

May we put our trust in the power of good to

overcome evil and the power of love to

overcome hatred. We pray for the vision to see

and the faith to believe in a world

emancipated from violence, a new world

where fear shall no longer lead men to commit injustice,

nor selfishness to make them bring suffering to others.

Help us devote our whole life and thought and energy

to the task of making peace, praying always for 

inspiration and the power to fulfill the destiny for which 

we were created.

(Prayer for World Peace, 1978)

(1)     Slick, Matt. "True Peace in Your Life." http://carm.org/christianity/sermons/philippians-46-9-true-peace-your-life (accessed November 30, 2012).