Daily Meditation for March 26, 2024

The month of March is named after Mars, the Roman god of war. Throughout history, war has been the preferred way to solve  problems or to exert power over opponents. But conflict is everywhere and not necessarily bad or destructive. Even when conflict is caused by sin and evil intentions and results in a great deal of suffering, God can use it for good. What can we ordinary citizens do to stand up for nonviolent solutions to world problems? We can influence our culture to value negotiation, diplomacy and thoughtful planning over violent force. To update your knowledge about this, try googling “Peacemaking.” We can use voting to choose leaders who are peacemakers. Look for candidates who are respectful and focused on helping people. Those who can understand various perspectives and have success in working with diverse groups. And those who show patience. We need leaders who do not think  about getting even, but about getting creative. Let’s become active with other peacemakers and never give up.

By Mary Jackle, OSB