Peace be with you.
And also with you.
My Dear Friends,
I hope all is well in with you today, and you are feeling lovely.
We are slowly working our way through the Fruits of the Spirit, and today we will embrace Peace.
I grew up with the formative years of my adult life having a passion for the whole concept of peace. Heavily involved in the CND movement (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) and related groups and organisations, and very importantly growing my hair for peace while on Shoreham Beach. (The photos are dreadful, I have no idea how I got away with that!)
Those demonstrations, Sit ins, prayer groups, and Non Violent Direct Action had a big impact on the development of my theology, and it certainly took my thinking way beyond the personal, and individual. My concern was always about community and beyond, and in particular the vulnerable and voiceless.
But the Peace we are embracing which is the Fruit of the Spirit is something quite different from the absence of war, and the indiscriminate threat of vast numbers of people through weapons of mass destruction. It is something much more personal, and is found within rather than externally.
When we open our souls to the presence of the Holy Spirit, and when we allow ourselves to be driven by the principles of Loving our neighbour as ourselves we discover that Peace flows within us.
Do you remember that wonderful phrase from Saint Augustine ‘Our hearts are restless until they find they rest in You (God). Well it is that sense of restlessness that deprives us of our inner peace.
There are many things that cause our inner struggles. The big ones are a sense of judging others, and desire to compare and compete, a love of worldly things, and a need to be right, or at least approved of. Searching for these will not bring Joy as we mentioned on Tuesday, and will certainly not give us an inner peace. When we strive for these things, there will never be enough, and we will never be content or happy in our own skin. This has much to do with the false ego within us lying to us by saying these things are more important than our spiritual wellbeing. It (our ego) will convince us that once we have met the needs it demands, then we can sort our spiritual lives out. And time and again we fall for that.
But deep inside you and I know that real inner and spiritual peace comes when we accept the gift of faith, and allow that to put things in to perspective.
Jesus teaches us to put others before ourselves, to forgive, to not judge, to not strive after worldly treasure, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
He teaches us that all human lives are valued and loved, and he knows what we need even before we ask.
So, here is a beautiful little Spiritual exercise that may help us find a little more inner peace. It takes a while, but is certainly worth it. Like all things the more you put in to it, the more you will find it helps.
There are three steps, and give as long as you can to each one. Say 5 minutes the first time you try it, but anything above that is even better.
Sit comfortably, with no distractions, and with your eyes closed.
Step one, imagine your toes are removable like the cap on a toothpaste tube. Imagine you have unscrewed them all, and put them carefully to one side. Now allow the things that are causing you to be restless to drain from your body. Don’t try and answer the issues you have, just let them slowly flow away. Take time starting from the top of your head to be aware of the feeling of space inside as they feelings of inner conflict, confusion or anxiety just flow away. Remember you are not trying to solve all your problems, at the moment you are just letting them go.
Issues you have with other people. Judgements you have about the behaviour you have witnessed. Worries about what people think of you. Concerns about your status in whatever groups you belong to. Worries about the future. Just let them drain away. and as you do so, feel your body slowly emptying so that it can become completely receptive.

Step two. Once you are completely empty, screw your imaginary toecaps back on, and then just think about the beautiful teachings of Jesus. It doesn’t matter necessarily which ones you think of, and this is not an exam, but rather an opportunity to rest in the stories you know well. You don’t need to get them right, or in order, but rather just accept the words that come to you. They may include Christian teaching from the Gospels or other parts of scripture, or from things you have heard or read.
Here are just a few, but there are so many more. I am just using parables as an example.
The Good Samaritan
The lilies of the field
The Pharisee and the tax collector
The two debtors
Treasure in heaven
The list goes on, and you can think of anything which will just instill within you a sense of the Christian teaching you know to be true.
Step three is a little more specific. You are now in a place where you are ready to allow God to fill you.
Read the following prayer slowly

The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
fill my heart and mind
with the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
fill me and remain with me always.

Allow yourself to be filled. Feel that knowledge and love of God pouring in, and replacing all that you allowed to flow away. Accept his presence, and rest in that peace, knowing that we cannot fathom its depth, but we can receive it.
Just stay with it for a while, and try and register what it feels like.
Once you are content and comfortable, finish by just accepting these words.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid.

Bless you with the spirit of his peace,
As ever,
Fr Marcus