Tag: inner peace

The Peacemakers

The Beatitudes Series Part 7

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God

By Amy Saleam

Peace – is it more than just merely the absence of physical chaos?

To really answer this question, we need to think of where our peace comes from. In John 14:27, the Lord says “peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you.” When we think about cause and effect, we realise that for something to happen, there would be some sort of trigger or stimulus for it. In this beatitude we are called to be peacemakers, so it is very important as Christians to know where our peace comes from, truly acknowledge it and allow it to manifest into our actions, so that we may really live our lives as reflections of Christ.

When you switch on the news or even when you’re aimlessly scrolling through social media, you read and watch reckless behaviour, unforgiveness in the name of justice, humiliation of others, leaders of countries making derogatory comments about other nations and the list goes on. To a person who has not known Christ, this may seem like just another day in this “normal,” yet so broken world.

The difference for us is that having Christ as the centre of our lives means having His peace dwell within us. This peace can alleviate the anxiety and fear of what we see on the news and social media and gives us an opportunity to challenge these broken “norms.”  The truth is, however, we very so often take this lightly. Christ has given us something so precious, a peace that can be found nowhere else but in Him. With this peaces comes the responsibility to make our actions a reflection of He who dwells within us. For some, our actions of love and forgiveness can, at times, be the first taste of Christ for others. This is something we should consider when we are dealing with others in difficult situations. Are we going to respond in a way which reflects the corruption that is around us, or are we going to react in a way that will emit Christ? Understanding that by offering the grace and peace that the Lord has given us to others, we are in extension giving them an opportunity to know what it is like to have Christ.

So to answer the question, is peace more than just the absence of physical chaos? Yes. This is because in order for there to be a physical kind of peace, it is something that starts from the purity of our hearts and the treasure of the Lord’s peace in our lives. In Psalm 120:7 we read, “I am for peace, but when they speak they are for war.” St John Chrysostom comments on this and says:

This is virtue, this is above man’s understanding, this makes us near God…but if we are fighting and buffeting, we become far off from God: for enmities are produced by conflict, and from enmity springs remembrance of evil.

Identity – Who am I, who are you?

As we read through the beatitudes, we realise that each one is painting a montage of who Christ is, as He teaches us the virtues we are to exhibit. Living out each of these virtues is followed by a blessing. What is so special about the seventh beatitude is that It does not tell us what we will obtain, but rather it tells us about who we are.

When you first meet someone, your conversations will go something like this. You’ll start off with your name, your ethnic background, what your 9-5 is, perhaps you’ll even mention a hobby or two. These are all little bits and pieces of your character that are sown together. These are the conversation starters that can help connect us with other people. I’d like you to think of the part of you that you value the most. The piece of your identity that you cannot live without, that if it was taken from you overnight, you really cannot fathom what you will do.

What I love the most about this beatitude is that it reminds us that through the Lord, we can obtain the most valuable piece of our identity. Something that cannot be physically touched or seen, but something prized that cannot be taken from you. A title that your heart will be satisfied in, even if what you thought was the most important part of your life was not there anymore. How truly beautiful is it to know that you are the son or daughter of God.

So how can we live out Christ’s peace? I was listening to a sermon by Fr Benjamin Abouelkheir which was a part of a series called ‘Parting with Partiality’ He tells us that partiality is when we allow our own thoughts and emotions influence how we deal with and perceive other people, instead of using fact. Fr Benjamin points out Galatians 3:25-27 where we are told that we are all Sons of God through faith in Christ and that there is  “neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This really had me thinking. Perhaps the first steps to create peace with others is to remove our own judgment and partiality, and to see others through the eyes of God. Removing this partiality will allow us to deal with others and situations not based on just their name, status, occupation or connections, but to be able to lift the bias and show them Christ through our actions.

How important is it that we become peacemakers?

“There is nothing better than peace in Christ, for it brings victory over all the evil spirits on earth and in the air. When peace dwells in a man’s heart it enables him to contemplate the grace of the Holy Spirit from within….all our desires, all our efforts, and all our actions should make us say constantly with the Church: “O Lord, give us peace!” When a man lives in peace, God reveals mysteries to him..”

St Seraphim of Sarov

The Lord has promised that by being a pillar of peace to others, your identity will be nothing less than being known as His child. Let us grasp onto the peace He fills us with and love others enough to share it with them and be the peacemakers that this world is yearning for.

Self Denial

Self-Denial

By Fr Yacoub

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

In many aspects of modern day life, there exists a clear disparity between the life Christians are called to lead, and the life lived with the influence of Western culture. This distinction is not seen any more clearly than by looking at the quality of self-denial, a concept that is highly foreign to many Western cultures.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:3-4

This idea of denying oneself – forsaking personal desires for the interests of others – is unfamiliar and even unacceptable in most perspectives. Notions of submission have highly attached negative connotations in modern society, and are associated with feelings of weakness and limitation. Contrary to this perspective, true Christianity sees things differently.

Self-denial may be considered a core value in Christian life, led and taught to us by Christ on Earth. With the mindset of “not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42), Christ set the perfect example, a didactic life of denying oneself.

But what benefit does self-denial have? In a modern day society crowded by those blowing their own horns, gloating in their perceived success and absorbed in their own selves, where does self-denial fit? Let’s explore.

Inner peace
Denying oneself allows a grace and gift of true inner peace. How can anything disturb someone, who denies themselves to live for the Lord? Self-absorbed sins of envy, jealousy and bitterness will dissolve. With the “helmet of salvation” Ephesians 6:17, the obsession with oneself is displaced by the focus on the Lord… a recipe for true peace.

Forgiveness
One who truly denies themselves will only have forgiveness in their hearts. It is a barrier, a protection of the anger that can lead to grudges and enmity with neighbors. How can you get angry if someone hurts your “dignity or status”, if you deny yourself?! You will be satisfied, no matter what one may do to you.

Loved by all
Paradoxically, the act of denying yourself draws hearts of love and friendship. You will be a friend of Heaven and Earth. Let’s consider a married couple. In the wedding ceremony, they recite vows from St Paul’s epistle. What is this commandment really saying? Self denial. If a spouse truly denies themselves for their partner, the only result is for the partner to submit. In The Paradise of the Monks, it is quoted that “the best thing for two people living together, is self-denial”. Let us use this not only with our spouses, but in everyday life with all. Trial with the grace of God, and see.

Let us shift now to the question; “How do I really know if I am denying myself?”

We see many attempts and examples, most with pure intentions of humility, but oftentimes misguided. Some may say, “On a table with issues being discussed, I do not join in. I keep my opinion to myself, it is a way of humility.” This has many risks – you may sit and feel yourself higher than those around discussing – the exact opposite of intended humility.

Again, one may say “I always wait to be last in anything, it is a way of humility” – of course this may be for some, but again it carries the same risks. So how do we truly deny ourselves?

I heard from a priest conference once, the following words.
The only way to acquire true humility and self-denial is to accept accusation and abuse from others.

There is a reward for those who are truly humble, and that is grace from Our Lord.

In his last visit to Australia, HH Pope Shenouda III came to St Mark’s Church. I needed him to help me in my spiritual life. He invited me in front of the congregation and kept humiliating me. He continued to ask, “What is this?! Where are the youth?!” I knew the youth to be upstairs in the English church, watching the event by TV connection, but I didn’t say so. I responded “I will look for the youth Saydena”.

Meeting him the next day in the monastery, I asked him “Are you truly upset with me Sayedna?”. In his wisdom he responded, “Father, is it better for me to praise you and say ‘you are a good priest, you have a good church’? Or for me to use this opportunity for you to improve in your spiritual life? You can be satisfied that the church if full of youth, but how will you grow? Will you look for the lost sheep?”

This is the culture of the monks in Egypt. They are tough with each other, to allow each other to grow. From Sayedna’s firmness, I have stayed many nights thinking and apply what he said. To survive and strive in this culture if firmness, humility and self-denial is not only beneficial, but completely necessary. Let us adopt these characteristics.

One may ponder on the difference between self-denial and low self esteem. There exists one clear and important difference. Though you may have low self-esteem, it is imperative to know that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13. We are weak alone, but vessels for the glory of God through His grace.

We pray that the Lord grant us grace to deny ourselves as He did. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. With His life as the perfect example, let us live for His glory alone.

Glory be to God Amen.