Let’s Be Peacemakers in 2018

by Letters Editor · January 1, 2018

Athaly Jenkinson, East London – In a familiar Garfield cartoon by Jim Davis, Jon says: “There is so much going on in the world, it’s hard to keep up,” to which Garfield the cat replies: “Nonsense. Just do as I do: ignore it!”

Our country, our continent, our world are like this today, and there are so many things we need to pray about, as we often cannot help in any other way except by asking God’s almighty help. But do we?

December 16 was the Day of Reconciliation in South Africa, and January 1 is the World Day of Prayer for Peace.

Prayers

Let us pray the Rosary (or even a decade), the Fatima Prayer, and: “O God of justice and love and mercy, bless us, the people of our country (South Africa), our continent (Africa) and the world, and help us to live in your mercy, love, justice and peace. Grant us gentleness of spirit and understanding of heart so that we may enfold your earth in lasting friendship and peace.

“Sacred Heart of Jesus, we put all our trust in you. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. All the angels, saints, martyrs and holy souls, and our brothers and sisters throughout the world join in prayer with and for us.

“St Francis of Assisi, help us to heal the earth and transform society not just by social justice but by changing hearts, mindsets and attitudes, including our own, with the prayer popularly attributed to you: Lord, make me an instrument (channel) of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love; where there is injury, let me bring pardon; where there is discord, let me bring harmony.

“Grant that we may not so much seek to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, to receive sympathy as to give it — for it is in giving that we shall receive; in pardoning that we shall be pardoned; in forgetting ourselves that we shall find unending peace with others. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

Let us pray often, alone or with others, and pass the prayer on through distributing copies and on social media to as many others as possible — let us be peacemakers and learn to love one another, our neighbour, our enemy, as Christ taught. Let the message fly on the wings of the Holy Spirit across the world.