Say What?

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[Hat tip to The Bible Geek for this thought, which has begun to sink in more than two weeks after it was first presented to me.]

Last night, my eyes fell upon a passage from St. Paul's letter to the Colossians (part of Evening Prayer) that had a different effect than the hundred-or-so times I have prayed it previously.  The Apostle wrote that Christ made "peace by the blood of his cross" (1:20).

Wasn't the cross, and Jesus crucifixion, an ugly, tumultuous event?  How can peace come through something that seems to be the opposite of peace?

Alas, St. Paul was not the first person to pass along this nugget of wisdom that caused a bit of head-scratching.  Our Lord, Himself, told His disciples to "be of good cheer" during times of bitter trial.  He said that loneliness and spiritual attack were necessary, even inescapable, so that "you may have peace" (Jn. 16:32-33).

But isn't discipleship of Christ supposed to be easy?  Aren't we always supposed to be filled with wonderful thoughts and feelings?  How do loneliness and spiritual attack bring good cheer and peace?

In light of yesterday's post (see below), I realized that God was speaking to me through St. Paul's letter and Jesus' words in the Gospel of John.  I realized that He was answering my plea for help.  I realized that God is allowing peace and contentment to come into my life through turmoil.

How might this be?  I am still not sure, but I have a deep and abiding trust in the Word of God and the wisdom of the Church.  This concept was iterated by Christ to His disciples; it was passed on to early Christian communities by one of the great teachers of the Faith, St. Paul.  If two men such as Christ and St. Paul proclaimed this truth, then I am willing to accept it.  It is necessary for me to undergo trials and tribulations so that I can find peace.

God bless!

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