Servants of God's Peace

The hymn O God of Light by James Quinn, SJ, includes this line: “Make us servants of your peace.” What does it mean to be a servant of God’s peace?

In Philippians 4:7, Paul says, “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Thus we know that if we wish to be a servant of God’s peace, we must be comfortable with mystery; we must allow Christ to guide us; and that we must devote both our hearts and our minds to cultivating peace.

Persons who are content to live with mystery must learn to act contrary to their instincts. Instead of living in fear that we won’t have enough, we can live in the peace of knowing that what we already have is sufficient and even abundant. Instead of fretting about how to protect our possessions, we can give them away and free ourselves from worrying about them. Instead of fearing that we will be alone and unloved, we can generate love by loving others.

God’s peace will guard our minds when we put on the mind of Christ, which means that we trust God will always provide for us and we offer others forgiveness and mercy. God’s peace will guard our hearts when we love the way Jesus did—that is, by loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

In an anxious world, we can be servants of peace by cultivating peace within ourselves, which entails becoming comfortable with mystery, trusting in God’s providence, and following Christ’s guidance. When we are in the presence of a peaceful person, we relax, smile, and have a sense of well-being. As servants of God’s peace, we can offer that gift to others who are greatly in need of it.