Mercy

The Final Test…

Victory, that is, true happiness—joy—can never be had in isolation, or at the expense of another’s wellbeing.

The readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time call attention not only to the degree of God’s mercy and compassion, but also to the Lord’s openness to dialogue and mutual respect, as well as calling attention to the degree that living through and embracing the way of love, mercy, and compassion on behalf of others makes all the difference, playing part in salvation—individual and collective.

In the first reading (Genesis 18:20-32), there is discussion between the Lord and Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrah, the twin sin cities. The Lord can surely do whatever, whenever. However, that is not God’s way. In this passage, we see another example of God engaging with humanity, in response to seeing what’s going on in the two cities.

What do you make of the Lord desiring to bring Abraham along as he looks more closely?

The Lord not only listens to what Abraham has to say, but also receives it without offense, and honestly considers it with great openness and humility.

What’s it like to put yourself in Abraham’s shoes? Envision yourself in the setting and saying to the Lord:

“Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Suppose there were fifty righteous people in the city; would you really sweep away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people within it?
Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Should not the judge of all the world do what is just?” (v. 23-25).

In the verses that follow, Abraham continues to question the Lord. He asks 5 more times, referring to equally less quantities of righteous among the unrighteous. This back and forth ends with the following:

“But he persisted: ‘Please, do not let my Lord be angry if I speak up this last time. What if ten are found there?’ For the sake of the ten, he replied, I will not destroy it.” (v. 32).

Throughout this passage, one can see that the Lord does not grow impatient with Abraham, nor does he shut down the conversation, berate or demean him.

What strikes you most about the exchange between the Lord and Abraham?

The passage in the first reading can be referred to as “Abraham intercedes for Sodom.”

Think of a situation that you’re aware of and that is of concern to you. Pray for grace to receive the Lord’s view with openness and humility, without taking offense or turning away from questions and challenges but instead facing them with patience and a focus on what is truly right and just.

In the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 138:1-3,6-8), the response is, “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” (v. 3a). The entirety of verse 3 is,

“On the day I cried out, you answered; you strengthened my spirit.”

Reflecting on what you intercede for, spend some time crying out to the Lord, and expressing a desire for your spirit to be strengthened in the Lord. Invite the Lord to help you to see the places where you and He are on the same page, and the places where you may vary.

In verses 12-14 of chapter 2 of the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians, the second reading, we are reminded of the life-giving power of being baptized in the Lord. Nothing is insurmountable to spiritual wellbeing in and through the Lord. St. Paul writes in part,

“And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions;” (v. 13).

Notice which phrase in the verse above grabs your attention. Considering this phrase amid earthly cares, how might the Lord be inviting you to greater peace and harmony? And how might you extend greater peace and harmony to others?

In the Gospel (Luke 11:1-13), Jesus’s response to a disciple’s request of, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” (v. 1) is:

“When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test.” (v. 2-4)

It’s important to remember that to live authentically and to truly overcome obstacles, one must consider who is being lifted up from words/actions. How is something giving glory to God? Who is benefiting and to what extent? And, in what ways does it fit in with the Lord’s example of love, mercy, and compassion to oneself and others?

Going back to the concern you were praying about, ask the Lord to help you to see (or to reaffirm for you) what’s most important, or what the final test is, in the situation. Take time to share and rest in the Lord with your thoughts and feelings on this, and to receive and desire to carry forward His.

The Gospel passage continues with Jesus giving an example of two friends, one asking the other for loaves of bread in the middle of the night. Jesus says,

“I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.” (v. 8)

Returning to your prayer, where, or with whom, does the bulk of your concern lie? Is it with yourself, others, a mix, or something else? Ask the Lord to reveal to you, from moment to moment throughout each day, the spot(s) to invest your time and energy. Where is greater persistence needed? How might you need the Lord’s help in this area?

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” – Luke 11:9-13

Hearts being lifted up by a butterfly.

Begin with Love…

The readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter can be seen as encouragement toward, and an opportunity to reflect throughout the week on perseverance, praise, promise, and practice, but most of all, Love.

In the First Reading (Acts 14:21-27), Paul and Barnabas continue their travels, preaching to and teaching the Gentiles about the Way. In this scripture passage, it is written:

“They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, ‘It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.’” (v. 22).

Think about some of the hardships you have encountered or are currently experiencing. Where have you found strength to persevere? What about moments of peace? How do you desire God to be present to you regarding these challenges? Take some time to bring these areas to prayer and express what is in your heart as you do.

The First Reading ends with the following verses:

“From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” (v.26-27).

Continuing to reflect on the questions above, your prayer, and these closing verses, what insight or inspiration comes to you?

——————–

In the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 145:8-13), the response comes from verse 1 of the Psalm which is, “I will extol you, my God and king; I will bless your name forever and ever.” While it expresses the psalmist’s deep sense of gratitude to God, the verses that follow it speak to characteristics of God:

“The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The Lord is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.” (v. 8-9).

In what ways have you encountered, and do you continue to encounter, grace, mercy, patience, and kindness through God, both directly and indirectly? In what ways do you embody and promote these characteristics to others?

The verses of the Psalm continue:

“Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.” (v. 10-11).

“Let them make known your might to the children of Adam,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.” (v. 12-13).

What strikes you most about the above verses, in terms of the reception of the Creator and the response of the created? As you contemplate this, what events or circumstances come to mind and what feelings do they give rise to? Where and how do praise and gratitude come into play? Pray with this, sharing your thoughts and feelings with the Lord, and allowing yourself to listen to or get a sense of the Lord’s response.

——————–

The Second Reading comes from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 21:1-5a):

“Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.’
The One who sat on the throne said,
‘Behold, I make all things new.’”

After reading the above passage, when you read, “God’s dwelling is with the human race.”, what comes to mind, and what feelings accompany it?

As you continue to reflect, envision yourself, arm in arm with the Lord, walking along a path, in a place of your choosing. Share the thoughts and feelings that are stirring within you and allow the Lord to respond. Notice the way you receive or embrace each other as you communicate? What characteristics of the Lord do you experience and what ones do you exude to the Lord?

Recalling the last verse in this passage, “The One who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’”, what is your current level of trust in these words? Taking to heart God’s words as God’s promise, and your current reality, what happens? Share what’s going on inside you with the Lord including the areas that pose a challenge to your belief?

As your prayer time comes to its closing, what desire is in your heart? And what is the Lord’s desire for you?

——————–

The Gospel passage for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (John 13:31-33a, 34-35) takes us back to the Last Supper, after Jesus has washed the feet of the disciples and Judas has taken leave of Jesus and the others present.

“When he had left, Jesus said,
‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself,
and God will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.’”

What’s it like to sit with the notion of the glory of God being in you? In what ways does, and can, being mindful of this truth enrich and/or enlighten your words and actions? In practice, how does it inspire a cooperative spirit with the flow of God’s love in and through you?

“Where do we begin? Begin with the heart.” – Julian of Norwich

Cross inside a heart, creating bursts of light.

An Even Greater Love…

Working my way around,
whether by chance or fate,
again, once more, I hear,
reverberations of,
not stern warnings, but of
wise voices of the past.

Just as justice for one,
affects justice for all,
mercy and compassion
make the way to goodwill;
offspring of love, made by,
an even greater Love.

Cross inside a heart, creating bursts of light.

“From my point of view, God is the light that illuminates the darkness, even if it does not dissolve it, and a spark of divine light is within each of us.” – Pope Francis

Moonlight through clouds

Light Giving Glory…

Looking up at the nighttime sky,
Your artistry on full display.
Shades of hope… brighter, better times,
Memories reckoning what was,
Speculation of what will be,
But then light, your glorious light,
Bringing me back to my senses.
Troubled, wretched waters may be,
Times for standing up together,
Praying that this beat finds its end.
Looking up at the nighttime sky,
Your artistry on full display.
The stones are crying out for all.
Forsaken? No, nor shall any be.

Moonlight through clouds

Wood and Nails by The Porter’s Gate

Yellow flowers representing hope

Rooted in What?

The Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (John 8:1-11) can be seen as providing an opportunity to consider what’s at the root of one’s reactions and the ensuing responses or decisions to the situations or news that arises from day to day.

Read the passage below to familiarize yourself with the situation described.

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” – John 8:1-11

Next, take some time to revisit this reading from different perspectives.

First, put yourself in the shoes of the crowd. You’ve come to see and listen to this new teacher. What has drawn you to him?

Envision yourself listening to Jesus preach when suddenly, there’s an interruption. A group of men push there way through the crowd, pulling along and forcibly putting a woman into the middle of the gathering. Then they publicly call her out and ask the new teacher what he has to say about the impending doom called for by the law. What’s your first thought or feeling? What do you imagine the expression on Jesus’s face is as this is happening?

Allow yourself time to process and discuss with Jesus what it’s like to be in the crowd, witnessing this occurrence.

Next, put yourself in the shoes of the scribes and Pharisees. What do you imagine led them to essentially drag the woman, not only to where Jesus was, but also to where there was a crowd around him? The passage tells us they wanted to test Jesus. What about consideration of the woman?

Invite Jesus into the thoughts and feelings that come up as you contemplate this perspective. Ask Jesus to show you if there are areas where you might be prioritizing something to the extent that it causes a blind eye toward side effects, such as disregard for the circumstances and/or well-being of others.

Now, put yourself in the shoes of the woman caught in adultery. What’s it like to envision being forcibly taken from one place to another, put in the middle of a crowd, having your transgressions publicized, and being used as a pawn, as you await your fate, which doesn’t look good according to Mosaic law, and may or may not be determined by this new teacher?

Again, share your thoughts and feelings with Jesus. Ask him to impart wisdom and grace to you in whatever challenges you face. Also ask him to reveal anything that might be detracting from your ability to be at your best and/or to choose what is best in His eyes.

Finally, put yourself in Jesus’s shoes. You’re preaching to a crowd that has gathered around you. You see and sense the need in each person’s face. Your heart, full of peace, love, and purpose, is moved with compassion. As you’re speaking, the scribes and Pharisees arrive with the woman in tow. What do you notice most as this interruption is occurring? What’s happening internally, and from where does your response come?

Allow yourself time to pray and reflect on this experience with Jesus. What insight does Jesus want you to prioritize at this moment in your life? In what ways, and toward what, is your heart, full of peace, love, and purpose, moved with compassion?

Where can Divinity meet, and raise, your humanity for the greater glory of God?

Yellow flowers representing hope

Hope rooted in the Lord, is well placed; with the Lord, nothing is impossible.

Flowers

Rooted in Love…

As the days passed by,
the flowers, still bright,
holding onto life,
begin to show the
length of days and nights,
separate, away
from the source of life.

Leaves dropping from stems,
petals shriveling,
on the outside first.
Time ticks, closing in.
Hold on as they may,
away from their roots,
they limp as they linger.

In the First Reading for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23), David and Abishai find themselves in a position of advantage, having the opportunity to kill Saul, who, along with his soldiers are in a deep sleep. However, despite Saul having grown distant from who he was at the beginning of his rule, and having become David’s enemy, David restrains himself and shows mercy. He says to Abishai, “Do not harm him, for who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and remain innocent?” (v. 9).

Spend some time with the first reading and consider that as beings created in God’s image, in a sense, we are all anointed.

The response for the Psalm is, “The Lord is kind and merciful.” (Psalm 103:8). Reflect on the ways that the Lord has been kind and merciful to you. How does your experience inspire you in terms of the way you view situations and people? In what ways do you feel compelled to be kind and merciful to others? Are there areas where the Lord might want to work with you on expanding upon or reassessing this?

Turning to the Second Reading (1 Corinthians 15:45-49), St. Paul writes of Adam and Jesus, but he is also writing about the call to conversion and discipleship.

As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly,
and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly.
Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. – verses 48-49

Envisioning your life as one line and the events/happenings during your life as another line on a continuum, think about the major events/happenings that have had a direct impact on you. What’s the difference between the times when you have maintained a sense of inner strength (or know-how) and peace, and the times you haven’t?

In the Gospel Reading (Luke 6:27-38), Jesus reminds us that Love is what sustains us. Not embracing cynicism, seeking or plotting revenge, settling or keeping scores. Rather, those are the things that tear us away from Love and the root of goodness and life—God.

How might you draw closer to Love in the challenges you face today? And how might the Lord desire to join you in an area of challenge?

The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in mercy. – Psalm 103:8

Various tracks in the snow

Presentation…

Your entrance, O Lord, glorious more than grand,
Humble, intimate, and so graceful too.

Your presence, O Lord, not pervasive, but kind,
merciful, compassionate… most fair too.

Your path, O Lord, filled with guidance and Love,
gentle and strong, for the good of all too.

Your way, O Lord, considering all things,
small and big, taking all into Your heart.

Your Wisdom, O Lord, makes clear how to be:
Inspired by Love to seek Peace and Good Will.

Various tracks in the snow

Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. – Hebrews 2:18

Receive Each Moment…

Driving on the highway on a clear but overcast winter morning one moment. Aimlessly sliding across lanes in the next. But through the grace of God, control was regained and the trip continued. In an instant, never mind a day or more, all sorts of things such as situations, environments, etc. can change drastically.

We can know that something is coming and do our best to prepare for it. For example, cold weather can bring icy conditions. Yet even being aware and extra careful, one can’t make any, and all, ice on a road or highway visible to the naked eye. And sometimes, like it or not, there is ice that’s both invisible and inescapable, extending across a road.

So, what’s one to do in these kinds of unavoidable situations? Shrink away from them? Or face them?

The fact of the matter is that there isn’t any one way or one answer for most things. However, there is always a best way to meet the moment. And oftentimes, arriving at it requires relinquishing the notion of control. Whether sliding across the highway in the cold, or steering the wheel on a warm, sunny day, it is the grace and love of God that sustains us.

We all have experiences that can shake us, literally and in other ways. Ones that can create anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and more. Yet, in all of them, we may not be in control, but we always have a choice(s). We can always strive to focus on what is best, what is possible, and most especially the spirit in which we proceed.

Last week’s Gospel was about the Wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-11). When Mary tells Jesus that the wine has run out, he responds in part, “My hour has not yet come.” Yet, Mary still tells the waiters to do as Jesus tells them. Jesus instructs the waiters. They follow his instructions—essentially becoming part of the miracle—and through the grace of God, the problem is resolved. It wasn’t time… but it was. The time for the goodness of God—love, mercy, compassion, etc.—is always.

In the Gospel for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21), we start by going back to the beginning of Luke’s Gospel. We are reminded of Luke’s motivation. In his own words, he is striving to preserve an accurate account of Jesus life and ministry. And part of that account follows as we read about Jesus in the time after his baptism and temptation in the desert.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. – Luke 4:14-15

What do you imagine Jesus, “in the power of the Spirit,” was like? What characteristics would you use to describe someone in the power of the Holy Spirit?

As the Gospel continues, Jesus enters the temple in Nazareth and proceeds to read from the scroll handed to him—the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” – Luke 4:17-21

Take some time to think about what you have learned and come to know about Jesus’s life and ministry. In what ways did Jesus’s words and actions fulfill this passage? How have you experienced these and other qualities of Jesus?

Whether it was at the wedding feast in Cana, in the temple in Nazareth, or elsewhere, and no matter what time it was, the Spirit in which Jesus lived and ministered was consistent and unwavering. And at the same time, he was fluid in meeting the moment with love and mercy, lifting all up as the glory of God, rather than making it his own.

Jesus’s life and teachings show us that the moment is always upon us, and the times is always right, to reflect the goodness of God. And more than that, our time is ours only thru the grace of God, and as such, it is always ripe with opportunity to be an expression of love and mercy in the world.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me. – St. Ignatius, Suscipe

Reverence…

In the second reading for this Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord, Peter says to those gathered before him, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35).

Fear (or reverence) of the Lord can be a challenging concept. In fact, it can be tempting to mistake reverence as only being evidenced in what one can see. It can also be tempting to shrink it down to a fixed notion of what reverence looks like.

However, our faith calls us to remember, that we do not have the mind, or the insight of God. It is important to keep in mind that in our humanity, we can get hung up in appearances or distracted in what we think ought to be, and in the process, lose sight of the heart of any matter. It is only God who can truly judge, and help us to know, when and what to say or do in response to a situation(s).

And God, as we learn in the Scripture verses leading up to this Sunday’s second reading (Acts 10:9-33), does exactly this for Peter. God helps Peter to see that the faith that he holds so dear, is not just for those like him, but also for the gentiles. His experience on a rooftop during his midday prayer reveals the following:

He was hungry and wished to eat, and while they were making preparations he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all the earth’s four-legged animals and reptiles and the birds of the sky. A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.” But Peter said, “Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean.” The voice spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.” This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into the sky. – verses 10-16

As Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said [to him], “There are three men here looking for you. So get up, go downstairs, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.” – verses 19-20

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.” While he conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered together and said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean. – verses 25-28

However, there’s more than that. God also helps Cornelius. Who like Peter, is not tethered to his own notions, and therefore is able to be open to being guided by the Spirit of God. It is written that Cornelius responds to Peter’s inquiry as to why he called him:

“Four days ago at this hour, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was at prayer in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling robes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to listen to all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” – verses 30-33

During the midday and afternoon hours of prayer, Peter and Cornelius had experiences of God that were different, but the same in Spirit. God gave them both direction, and despite it being an unusual or unexpected ask (for a Jew and a gentile, given practices, tradition, and cultural norms), both men in their fear or reverence of God, allowed themselves to cling to God and this new or different way, rather than a choice rooted in their worldly understanding—one that would have kept them separated… continuing with a wedge in place.

What wedges do you desire God to help humankind overcome today? Knowing that God’s grace flows in many directions on both small and large scales at the same time, what personal wedges would you like to overcome?

Take some time to reflect on this Scripture and how it relates to your experiences, both personal and more community or world-wide.

What happens when you think about God as placing emphasis on internal disposition or drive and how it motivates, informs, and influences one’s actions?

Envision the peace of God embracing you, calling your name, and saying, “You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22). Rest in the Lord and listen to what God desires for you.

When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. – Titus 3:4-7

From where…

From where chaos comes,
Base passion and design,
Stirring ill will, division,
Seeds sowing lies.
Looking, always looking,
To seep and settle in.

From where chaos spreads,
Human passions and designs,
From what we, as masters, embrace,
What we give into,
And what we withstand.

From where peace comes,
Divine passion and design.
Love weaving in and out,
Through time and space.
Ushering good tidings,
Encouraging good will.

From where peace spreads,
Human passions and designs,
From what we, as servants, embrace,
What we give into,
And what we withstand.

“Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things,
man will not himself find peace.” – Albert Schweitzer

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace. – James 3:16-18