Friday, January 01, 2010
Solemnity of Mary – Second Vespers
Reflections at Evening Prayer
Reflection by Patricia Crowley, O.S.B., Prioress
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This day is designated in many different ways - Solemnity of Mary, Octave of Christmas, World Day of Peace, New Year’s Day, 2010, Global Family Day. This morning, Suzanne spoke so well of Mary and of the power of the incarnation as it becomes uniquely present in each of us. This afternoon, I would like to reflect on peace as we begin this new decade.
Mary represents the epitome of peace-making. Peace-making requires an ability to look at seemingly irreconcilable realities and to find the commonality therein. It requires patience to be with those varying differences through many processes and to gradually begin to see where things or people are the same. Mary accepted the extraordinary into the ordinariness of her life. She heard unbelievable words and pondered them in her heart. She came to realize the reality of Jesus - the Divine become incarnate in her child. As a result, all human life changed forever. …..and we, humans, are still trying to grasp that reality.
Peace is something we pray for, we long for, we sometimes are not sure is possible.
Because in 1976 Pope Paul VI declared this a Day of Peace, our church has since that time celebrated New Year’s Day as a day of prayer for peace. This year Pope Benedict chose to focus on the theme - “To Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation” – a fitting focus for our world now faced with the drastic effects of climate change on poor nations of the world.
This year the U.S. Senate and the House both passed resolutions that our country might establish the observation of Global Family Day, a day of peace and sharing among all the peoples of the world, across every border and culture, promoting understanding, non-violent conflict resolution, the eradication of hunger and poverty, and respect for all as bound together as one in the human family (S.Res. 357 and H. Con. Res. 221).
In thinking about peace, of course, we think about the prevalence of violence in our world. The last decade began with a most vivid image of violence on September 11, 2001. That decade ends with images and reports of violence in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Palestine, in Chicago, and throughout the world. This World Day of Peace invites us to envision peace in our own lives, in our cities, in our world. The possibility of peace does seem out of reach and so did the Incarnational reality in Jesus Christ. This day invites us to ponder this possibility and to be patient as we try to realize its impact on our lives and on our world.
To help us imagine peace in our world, I have purchased two little books entitled “Peace Planet, Light for our World” put together by two women and will place these in each of our chapels. This booklet has a page for each country with a poignant photo and a prayer for peace. Each day we might turn the page to a new country and hold the people of that country in our prayer. May this serve as a call to prayer and a call to envision peace in our world. In this small way, we join our thoughts and our prayers with people throughout the world.
We bless our world.
May Peace prevail on earth!