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October 8, 2023
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 8, 2023 – Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippian 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43
I am sure you caught the switch. In the first paragraph, St. Paul uses the phrase, “the peace of God.” In the second paragraph he uses the phrase, “the God of peace.” Listen to how he phrases each one. “By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God will guard your hearts.” Doesn't that sound like what we all experience when we pray?
Basically, we have four different ways we pray.
- We say, “Please God, don’t let …” or “Please God, make…”
- Or we say, “Thank you, God, because you let…” or “Thank you, God, because you prevented...”“Thank you, God, because you helped...”
- “God, I’m sorry I did what I just did.”
- And “Oh, wow! God, that’s wonderful.”
Those are basically the four sources of prayer. And when we pray that way, whatever anxiety has befallen us begins to get itself back into its cage. A calm descends. The peace of God.
- But the second thing is more fascinating. I want you to take just a moment to do each of these things.
- Think of something that you know is true.
- Think of something that you know to be honorable. Or someone.
- Think of something you've seen that’s just. Fair.
- Think of something that’s pure. Like a little child or purebred alcohol.
- Think of something that’s lovely. And right at the turn of the seasons, as you come up Wurtsboro mountain, for just one minute, even less, you can see the whole of the valley. All the Bashakill.
- Think of something gracious. Two people dancing together. A waiter who knows how to wait on tables.
- Think of something excellent. A grandchild running to you with their A+ paper. A really good episode of your favorite television show.
- Think of something praiseworthy.
St. Paul says, “When you think about those things in your life, then the God of Peace, the God of Peace is with you.” Because in everything that I just mentioned, some little glimpse of God can be caught.