Optional Memorial of Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest

Brief Background:

St. Paul of the Cross was an Italian priest and mystic who founded the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, commonly known as the Passionists. He dedicated his life to preaching about the suffering and death of Jesus, reminding people that the Cross is the greatest expression of God's love. He encouraged people to meditate on Christ's Passion as a way of growing closer to God.

Patron Saint of: The Passionist Congregation. He is also invoked by those seeking a deeper understanding of Christ's suffering and those experiencing spiritual difficulties.

REFLECTION:

Lately, I have been praying for peace in France and throughout Europe, especially with all the violence, unrest, and chaos going on there. I have been praying for the people affected, for their safety, and for peace to return to their communities.

But as I was praying about all of this and preparing for today's Mass, I came across a verse in our first reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians that caught my attention. St. Paul says, "He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near."

Now, I can understand why Jesus would preach peace to those who were far off. We look at what is happening around the world, the violence, wars, and divisions, and we pray that Christ will bring peace to those places. But what caught my attention was the second part of that verse: "Peace to those who were near."

Why would those who are near need peace?

And then it struck me. Just because we are physically close to someone doesn't mean we are united with them. Think about our own families. You can have siblings and their families living under the same roof, sharing the same kitchen, the same living room, and even the same dining table. Yet there can still be division. Maybe there are old arguments, hurt feelings, pride, jealousy, or resentment. Everyone lives in the same house, but they hardly speak to one another. And this doesn't happen only in families. It happens in our workplaces, schools, parishes, and even among friends.

Sometimes we are kinder to strangers than we are to the people closest to us. We can greet strangers with a smile but walk past our own coworkers without saying a word. We can be patient with someone at the grocery store but lose our patience with our own family members. And yet, we convince ourselves that everything is fine because we are still together.

But here's the thing: Being together is not the same as being united.

In today's reading, St. Paul was speaking about the Jews and Gentiles. One group was considered near to God because of their covenant relationship, while the other was considered far away. But notice something. Both needed the peace of Christ. And St. Paul tells us that Christ is our peace, the One who broke down the dividing wall of hostility.

Today, we celebrate St. Paul of the Cross, who dedicated his life to reminding people of God's love revealed through the suffering and death of Jesus. When we look at the crucifix, we see Jesus with His arms stretched open. Through His Cross, He reconciles us with God and one another. Yet sometimes, while Jesus is trying to tear down walls, we are busy building new ones. Walls of pride, resentment, jealousy, and unforgiveness.

My Friends, perhaps today's reading is reminding us that while we pray for peace in France, Europe, and throughout the world, we must not forget to pray for peace in our own homes, workplaces, schools, and communities. Because sometimes we are so concerned about the divisions happening thousands of miles away that we fail to recognize the divisions happening just a few feet away from us.

So today, I invite us to ask ourselves: Is there someone who is physically near to me but emotionally or spiritually far away? And what is one thing I can do to begin tearing down that wall?

Let us continue to pray for peace throughout the world. But let us also ask Christ to make us instruments of His peace right where we are. Because sometimes, the peace of Christ is needed most not on the other side of the world, but on the other side of our dining table, across the hallway in our workplace, or even in the pew next to us.

May we not simply be people who share the same space, but people who share the peace of Christ.