“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22
This past Sunday we continued our Summer Ordinary Time Series, “Growing Fruit Together”. Each week, an individual or a couple from our church will reflect on a particular fruit of the Spirit using their own life story. This week, Kevin and Carmen shared their stories, thoughts, and poems around the fruit of Peace. I was struck by Kevin’s phrase, “Peace is an AND word”, and the way he acknowledged with honesty the way God grows peace within us AND between us, within contexts of ease AND angst, chaos AND order. Like a dandelion growing up between the cracks of a decaying city street, God’s peace is resilient and can grow right in the midst of what seems to be the opposite of peace.
This reminds me of St. Francis’ great prayer for peace. My grandfather decoupaged this prayer onto a little piece of wood and had it in his study. Even as a child, I loved the cadence and sincerity of its words. Today, this piece of wood lives in my home, and this prayer lives in my heart. I offer it as this week’s prayer practice. May our hearts soften and open to the gift of peace as we pray these words together.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Blessings, Anne