9 - Deut 20:10-12

Deut 20:10-12

When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it. And if its answer to you is peace and it opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you. But it it makes no peace with you but makes war against you, you shall besiege it.

Context: God is giving the Israelites laws concerning their warfare as the go to take possession of the Promised land.

In my own life this is a guideline that I could easily use in my conflicts. Especially towards my children, when there is a conflict I tend to assume the worst and come out with guns blazing. Most often I am wrong. When that happens I find myself hurting feelings unnecessarily, then I have to apologize and back pedal and I lose credibility with them. So as I "draw near to a city to fight against it." I need to do two things:

1. Make sure the other party is actually in the wrong - an important step that I too often skip.
2. If they are in the wrong, I still need to approach in peace.

Think first, talk second, act last.

8 - Deut 2:26-27

Deut 2:26-27

So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon the king of Heshbon with words of peace saying, "Let me pass through your land; I will go only by the road, I will turn aside neither to the right nor to the left."

Context: The Israelites have been in the wilderness for 38+ years. Up until now, God has had the tread lightly through he lands owned by the descendants of Esau & Lot. Now God has told Moses that it is time to start taking some actual territory by force - but not from Esau's or Lot's clans.

So Moses sends messengers Sihon telling him that he will deal peacefully with him and just wants to pass through fairly as he has done in other lands. Even though God told Moses that it was time to use force, Moses offered a peaceful solution first. This is where the verses listed above come in. King Sihon refuses and comes out to meet the Israelites for battle. Sihon loses the battle.

Just as Moses tried to make peace even when force was allowed, so I think I need to proceed peacefully before jumping into battle. (Battle = daily conflicts) If a conflict needs to happen, it will, but I don't need to encourage it.

Also, looking only at the verses, I think maybe that is how I should proceed through "the world"; peacefully and fairly, like a stranger in a strange land. Neither absorbing the traditions of that land nor getting distracted from my path or stopping the progress of my journey.

7 - Num 6:26

Numbers 6:26

The Lord Bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

Context: These are the words that the Lord gives to Moses to give to Aaron to give to the people. God wants Aaron to bless the people with these very words. It comes after a long list of laws & rules and directly before the dedication of the altar.

This seems like and appropriate prayer for others in my own prayers.

It suggests that a look from God will bring us peace. But how would I know I was getting a look from God (and thus receive His peace) if I am not looking towards Him?

Keeping my focus on God seems to be conducive to peace and the other blessings of this prayer as well.

6 - Lev 26:6

Leviticus 26:6

And I will give peace in the land and you shall lie down and none shall make you afraid, and I will remove evil beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.

Context: Leviticus is a book of laws and instructions for ceremonies. This verse is near the and of the book. God is saying how he will bless them if they keep to His commandments. After this verse He follows up with punishments for disobedience.

While this blessing is under the Old Covenant and therefore doesn't apply as literally as it might have then, I think peace will be a result of staying clear of sin and having whole-hearted faith.

Peace in the land = peace in our general areas of life. This doesn't mean (to me) freedom from conflict, but maybe freedom from internal turmoil.

5 - Ex 18:23

Exodus 18:23

If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.

Context: Moses has been judging (governing) over Israel. His father in law comes to him and tells him how to delegate the task so that Moses does not get worn out. He basically explains a hierarchy to him. Verse 23 is the conclusion of the father in law's speech.

Thoughts: Come at things with a system in mind. Delegate responsibility. Use resources - including time - wisely. This will help me to have the energy to persevere and those around me will benefit also from the peace.

4 - Ex 14:14 (again)

Exodus 14:14

"The Lord will fight for you and you have only to keep still."

Context: This takes place as the Israelites flee from Egypt. They are at the sea and Pharaoh is bearing down on them in full force of his horses and chariots. They begin to panic and ask Moses why he brought them there to die. Verse 14 is Moses' reply to them.

In my own life, I think this points to my need to quiet my mind in it's anxious times and allow the Lord to go before me and do what he will. This does not call for my own inaction, but for my ability (through His grace) to rest in Him and proceed in faith that He has a plan.

3 - Ex 14:14

Exodus 14:14
Context: The Israelites are nearing the Red Sea and they see the Egyptians closing in on them. This is part of Moses’ reply to them.“The Lord Himself will fight for you, you have only to keep still.” Ex. 14:14

I can imagine what the Israelites were feeling at this point is about as far from peace as one can get. Moses may have even been getting uptight, but he remembered his faith and confidence in God and His promise of deliverance. I think I am more often like one of the Israelites than like Moses. My first response to danger or any stressful situation is to fight like ens. I get all worked up and my brain switches into overdrive, often causing me to lose sleep.

It’s kind of like quicksand though, the more I struggle and fight for peace, the more entrenched I seem to become in strife and chaos.

Could it be that I am trying to wrestle some peace out of God’s hands?

What about other situations, like my wish for a more peaceful home and just the presence of peace in my everyday life?

Am I a big clod in combat boots running through a field of fluffy dandelions trying in vain to catch a single seed? What if I try sitting quietly at the feet of the Father? What will happen then?

Oh, but the busybody in me is just so sure that nothing will get accomplished by this inaction. I can’t sit on my duff and wait for my environment to become more peaceful and my soul to fill with calm.

But then I hear His voice, “I will fight for you, you have only to keep still.”

And when I tell Him that sometimes it is harder to keep still and wait, He smiles and pats me on the head and says no more. Maybe that is all He wanted me to know. But maybe, just maybe, I should take a step out in faith and just try it. It is so scary, but maybe something surprising will happen.

Action Items: Identify some area where you lack peace, and commit to let God be the one to bring peace to that area. Write it on a piece of paper and stick it on or behind a picture of Jesus. Commit to laying the battle at His feet and let Him fight this one for you.

2 - CCC 557-558

CCC 557-558
Context: Jesus’ ascent to Jerusalem.I am tempted to not address the Catechism and Bible references that don’t refer to our personal peace. Some seem to refer only to a specific situation like Jesus’ ascent to Jerusalem. But I have so much to learn about peace, I don’t want to miss any tidbit so I will be taking even these specific situations and applying them personally.

CCC 557-558
557. When the days drew near for him to be taken up (Jesus) set his face to go to Jerusalem.'[Lk 9:51; cf. Jn 13:1 .] By this decision he indicated that he was going up to Jerusalem prepared to die there. Three times he had announced his Passion and Resurrection; now, heading toward Jerusalem, Jesus says: 'It cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.'[Lk 13:33 ; cf. Mk 8:31-33 ; Mk 9:31-32 ; Mk 10:32-34 .]
558. Jesus recalls the martyrdom of the prophets who had been put to in Jerusalem. Nevertheless he persists in calling Jerusalem to gather around him: 'How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!'[Mt 23:37] When Jerusalem comes into view he weeps over her and expresses once again his heart's desire: 'Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes.'[Lk 19:41-42]

“Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes.” Luke 19:41-42

I heartily believe that Jesus wants a soul drenching peace for us. He came bearing the title Prince of Peace, and peace is an embodiment of both His love for us and our love for others. This is not to say that not feeling peaceful is somehow a lack of God’s love. His love is a stark reality that does not rely on how or if we feel it. Being able to feel peace simply makes it easier for us to pass on God’s love and spread His peace to others.

In this passage from Luke, Jesus is wishing that Jerusalem could find peace. But because of the state of the city and the people in it, peace is hidden from them.

Jesus is wishing peace for me too. What is it in my life that is keeping it hidden?

Action Items:
Keep saying Bl. Elizabeth’s prayer.
Respond slowly.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the things hiding peace from you.

1 - CCC 260

CCC 260.
Context: Chapter on Profession of Faith, "I believe in God, The Father Almighty", section about Divine Works and Trinitarian Mission.Prayer of Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity - (This may very well be our theme!)
-O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me forget myself entirely so to establish myself in you, unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing be able to trouble my peace or make me leave you, O my unchanging God, but may each minute bring me more deeply into your mystery! Grant my soul peace. Make it your heaven, your beloved dwelling and the place of your rest. May I never abandon you there, but may I be there, whole and entire, completely vigilant in my faith, entirely adoring, and wholly given over to your creative action.

My thoughts:
A Friend once mentioned that the sooner we die to ourselves as parents, the happier we will be. Continually tripping over my own self-centeredness is a disruption to my peace and my ability to be a source of peace for others. I need so much help to be able to "Forget myself entirely" as Bl. Elizabeth says.

Is my soul able to be a peaceful resting place for Jesus? I picture a pillow on my lap with Jesus' head resting upon it. How often do I jump up abruptly to chase after the kids (or yell at them?)? Maybe I could at least move slowly and set His precious, wounded head down gently as I go to quash the current chaos. If I move slowly, can the peace of Jesus slow my temper as well?

Actions for the day:
Say the prayer. Work on memorizing it.
Try to react slower than usual.