THE FURROW BY JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA

 

 

The Furrow- JoseMaria Escriva

We have both peace and war within us. Victory and peace cannot be attained if loyalty and resolve to win the combat are lacking.

God is with you: so cast far away from you that fear and spiritual agitation. They are reactions to avoid in the first place, for they only serve to multiple temptations and increase the danger.

Everything may collapse and fail. Events may turn out contrary to what was expected and great adversity may come. But nothing is to be gained by being perturbed. Furthermore, remember the confident prayer of the prophet: “The Lord is our judge, the Lord gives us laws, the Lord is our king: it is he who will save us”

Say it devoutly every day, so that your behavior may agree with the designs of providence, which governs us for our own good.

If you fix your sight on God and thus know how to keep calm in the face of worries; if you can forget petty things, jealousies and envies, you will save a lot of energy, which you need if you are to work effectively in the service of men.

Your forgetfulness and your faults are still there, and they hurt you. At the same time, you go on your way bursting with happiness. Precisely because they cause you the pain of love. Your failings no longer rob you of your peace.

Fight against your harshness of character, against your harshness, your spirit of comfort and your dislikes. We have to be co-redeemers; and besides, consider carefully that the prize you receive will bear a very direct relation to the sowing you may have done.

Violence is not a good method for convincing anyone. Even less is it so in the apostolate.

Violent person always stands to lose, even though he may win the first battle, for he ends up isolated and hedged around by his lack of understanding.

I can’t understand why you are annoyed and disappointed. The paid you back in your own currency, delighting in insults by word and deeds. Learn from the lesson and never forget from now on that the people who live with you have a heart too.

To help you keep your peace during these times of heard and unjust contradictions I used to say to you: “if they break our skulls, we shall not take it too seriously. We shall just have to put up with having them broken” 

A paradox: I have had fewer worries on my mind every day since I decided to follow the advice of the psalm: “Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will sustain you.” And at the same time, once we have done whatever needs doing everything can be solved more easily.

Hail Mary is the Queen of Peace that is why the Church invokes her. So when your soul or your family are troubled, or things go wrong at work, in society or between nations, cry out to her without ceasing. Call to her by this title: Regina Pacis, ora pro nobis – Queen of peace, pray for us”. Have you at least tried it when you have lost your calm? You will be surprised at its immediate effect.