Discussion: The Apostolate of Peacemaking from ‘Live Like Francis’
Time: 3pm to 4:30pm
Venue: Greyfriars, 182 Iffley Road, Oxford OX4 1SB
No. of Attendees: 9
Summary:
We started off by asking ourselves the question, “What is peace?”
Some of the answers and opinions given by Secular Franciscans at the meeting were:-
1. Personal peace which refers to peace in the inside of a person.
2. Absence of war is peace.
3. Negation of war still does’nt mean peace, when we carry anxieties and struggles within.
4. The world has always had conflicts from time immemorial. Peace must start from the inside of each of us, no matter what is happening around us.
5. Peace cannot be obtained by compromising on one’s values. Sometimes we must oppose injustice to maintain peace. Perhaps this is why Jesus said, “I have come not to bring peace but the sword.”
6. Peace also means not being materialistic and chasing after a life of luxury.
The discussion went on from there to talk about the Franciscan interpretation of peace.
As Secular Franciscans we are called to embody peace. The motto of the Franciscans is ‘Peace and Good’.
St. Francis lived this peace throughout his life, with his brothers, creation and nature alike.
St. Clare had to face a lot of humiliation, be it temporarily in her younger age, to follow the path of peace that St. Francis had chosen.
We also pondered on St. Augustine’s definition of peace as the ‘Tranquility of Order’. How can we rightly order our lives? So that peace can be attained within and then flow outwards from us to our near and dear ones. Sometimes it’s easier for us to want peace at the cost of others and pointing out the faults of others. Whereas we are imperfect and disordered ourselves, we expect perfection and order from those around us. Jesus tells us to “First remove the log out of your own eye, and then remove the speck of dust from your neighbour’s eye.”
We concluded by having this picture of peace as a river. Flowing ever so slowly through the valley, never stopping yet always making progress down it’s path towards the sea. As life happens to us everyday with it’s various circumstances and challenges, we prayed to God for the grace to live this life of peace and share it with those around us.
OFS Oxford 