Daily Bible Reflections- January 21, 2012

VICTORY OVER THE TRIPLE D

 

“How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!” – 2 Samuel 1:27

 

My grandma Cianing would tell me stories about how they fled their home and lived in the caves, subsisted on crocodile meat and prayed fervently that they be spared from the bayonets of Japanese soldiers. My grandma survived and has lived to see her 100th birthday yet memories of the war remain with her.

I believe no one wins in a war, no matter how noble the intention is for going into battle. The suffering doesn’t stop in the battlefield but ripples out towards the families of fallen soldiers and innocent people caught in the crossfire. The agony continues to linger for years, even throughout generations, after the war has ended to haunt the survivors and those left behind by the dead.

Destruction, devastation, death — these are the triple Ds that war brings. But I believe that in our small way, fervent prayer, fasting and being at peace with ourselves and others will help end all wars. The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, has won the victory over the triple D by His death on the Cross. And in His perfect time the day will come when warmongers will be transformed into peacemakers and will inherit not only the earth but everlasting peace. Dina Pecaña (dpecana@yahoo.com)

21

REFLECTION:

How do I help bring peace into my home, in my country and in the world?

 

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. (St. Francis of Assisi)

 

St. Agnes, virgin and martyr, pray for us.