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Peace

PEACE

Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB

            The world that we live in today is filled with so many things. Life has become more complex. Gone are those days where people were content with the little that they had. Society today has become one big rat-race where each individual is vying with the other in attaining or acquiring money or wealth. And yet in the midst of all this, there are many who are looking for peace. This is because deep down within each individual, no matter how much of wealth a person may acquire, there is a void that needs to be filled. So this therefore brings me to the question, “What is true genuine peace?”

            I have, in a way, laid stress by using the words, “true” and “genuine” because there are many who equate peace with having money, a beautiful house, maybe certain benefits at one’s work place and so on. Yet, perhaps this would all suffice to give one a true and genuine understanding of what peace is about. Peace, in its true sense, comes from God. It is something that surpasses all human understanding.

            This therefore brings me to another question, “How does one experience true, genuine peace?” In the first place, we should understand that true and genuine peace does not consist in acquiring any material wealth. It is based on joy and happiness. This, of course, does not undermine the fact that we should not have recourse to any material wealth. We need food, shelter and clothing. We cannot live only on love and fresh air. Besides, to think of such a thing would be madness! However, what is important is that it should be done in moderation. If we were to get overtly pre-occupied with material things, it blinds us to what is true and genuinely good. And why is it so? To answer that, we should realize that whatever we see is what characterizes our world view and the more we see, that becomes our dominant thought. It is in our thoughts and perceptions that contribute to our desires.


            I would like to conclude this short reflection with a short analogy. In each of us there is a good and bad wolf. The wolf that is fed more becomes strong. So it is up to us to which wolf we feed? If we are going to fill our minds with junk, we will get junk. If we are going to fill our minds with what is good, then we will get what is good. The more we are in contact with what we have and are not too pre-occupied with accumulating too much of material wealth, God in His goodness will certainly grant us that peace which surpasses all human understanding. 

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