The Gift of Peace (An Exhortation)

Weeks ago, I was finally able to picked up the pace and finished reading the book by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin called “The Gift of Peace.” The book is basically about his reflections and insights of the events and happenings in the final 2 months of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He began in his book by recounting 3 years back of how he forgave the person face to face who wrongfully accused him of sexual misconduct that went public in the media. But for the most part, the book was about discovering his new personal ministry of how, as a man of God, he can continue to strive to courageously and consistently be a living witness and example to others in living out his faith even in the face of death, and even in the midst of all his fears, anxieties and exhaustion, so that whether in good times or bad, God’s power still manifest, and eventually him finding God’s gift of Peace in the process in embracing death.

One of the things that struck me in the book, as it also resonated with some of my friends when I shared this with them, was when he said: “Pray while you’re well, because if you wait until you are sick you might not be able to do it.” This piques my sense of gratitude because I tend to do the opposite sometimes, prioritizing other things first and only pray to God more intently when in need or sick and praying doesn’t go too well sometimes in those circumstances. His saying also serves as a good reminder of how blessed we still are to be able to have the opportunity to pray and worship the Lord everyday with this gift of life and this gift of faith God has continue to give us, to be able to pray together with our families, with our kids, teaching them about faith and as examples to others in our prayer life. Though we are not as healthy as we wanted ourselves to be like we were 20 years ago or so, and despite coming here in the gathering limping, either spiritually or literally. We are still here, we made it and that’s what matters. Because we’ll never know, tomorrow may never come. We may never get the chance for God to work in our lives, in reparation and atonement for our sins and mistakes to the Lord and to our loved ones whom we have hurt.

Cardinal Bernardin ended his book by saying: "What I would like to leave behind is a simple prayer that each of you may find what I have found -- God's special gift to us all: the Gift of Peace. When we are at peace, we find the freedom to be most fully who we are, even in the worst of times. We let go of what is nonessential and embrace what is essential. We empty ourselves so that God may more fully work within us. And we become instruments in the hands of the Lord." Thirteen days after finishing his book, Cardinal Bernardin passed away in 1996.

As we worship this afternoon, let us ask the Lord for the gift of perseverance so that we may have the strength to pray as often as we can, and the joy to praise Him as long as we can until we may finally be able to say to Him: "Now, Lord, you have kept your promise, let your servant go in peace.” (Luke 2:29-31)

Exhortation 2019-11-3

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