We continue our prayers for peace this week especially as we come up to the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine (Picture from Pixabay has been picked to coincide with the Thought For The Week below)
Thought For The Week
“You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” ~ Matthew 5:40
Thomas Edison was one of our finest scientists. Every light bulb in your home is thanks to the endless work he put into improving electrical light. He had over a thousand different patents on scientific inventions. Edison’s world came crashing down when his scientific laboratories were destroyed by fire in 1914. But Edison never gave up. He famously said after the fire that there was great value in the disaster, as all his mistakes were also destroyed. He was determined to restart his life again and with the help of others rebuilt his world of inventions again.
Jesus was also someone who encouraged so many to rebuild their lives again, learn from the mistakes and always embrace new beginnings. His sermon on the mount was revolutionary in its thinking and massively challenging. When someone wrongs us, it is our instinct to want to get our own back. Turning the other cheek is not something natural for us.
Jesus asks us not to return evil for evil. He hated violence and especially where the beautiful dignity of a person was harmed by evil and violence. Jesus wanted our world to be safe for everyone but not by creating more violence. Gandhi was so moved by the teaching of Jesus that he lived his message of peace and asked others to do the same.
Our world is filled with evil and violence. Next Friday February 24th will be the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. It is dreadfully sad to see the horror that this war is causing. Its effects are worldwide. At every Mass we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine. The pessimist will say what a waste of time, what difference will it make?
But Jesus says yes it will make a difference. We are encouraged to be a person of love, a person of kindness and a person of peace. It is the only response to evil and hatred. It is easy to get disheartened, to give up and to lose hope. We continue to pray for peace and to be a person of peace even if it feels we are brushing water uphill. But the top of every hill can be reached. It is at the heart of what we believe in.
The Thought For The Week is updated each Monday
