Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-38) - Prince of Peace

Dearest Goddaughter,

There are times and situations where we may be in a position that gives us an advantage over another person - for instance, an employer over his or her employees. As the saying goes - "with great power comes tremendous responsibility." Sometimes, the greatest power is restraint.

David had the advantage over Saul in the cave yet he chose restraint and mercy. He could have killed Saul, the man who is hunting him to kill him, yet he chose restraint and mercy. As with when he faced the Philistine, David trusted that God would deliver him from his enemy, saying: "The Lord will be the judge; he will decide. . ." We must stand up against injustice, no doubt about it; however, let us allow the Spirit of God to guide us rather than raw emotions or feelings.

This can be hard for us, especially in the face of injustice, but I think it would be prudent of us to practice restraint, pause to pray, and discern next-steps. The woes in our society exist in part because we do not practice restraint with each other but are driven by our impulses. We see this on social media and in how people lash out at one another. As I mentioned before, it would behoove us practice the pause before we react.

Jesus picked the twelve disciples and gave them the authority to preach and the power to drive out demons, to share His message of love, mercy, and forgiveness and not to lord over others. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. May we look to him so that we, too, can be instruments of faith, hope, and love in our family, communities, and world.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 24:3-21 and Mk 3:13-19 (below).

. . .

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted

and they came to him.

He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,

that they might be with him

and he might send them forth to preach

and to have authority to drive out demons:

He appointed the Twelve:

Simon, whom he named Peter;

James, son of Zebedee,

and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,

that is, sons of thunder;

Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,

Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;

Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,

and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.