Silent Night, a Christmas favorite for many, paints a beautiful nativity scene that just radiates what so many of us in the modern world lack.

 

From “All is calm, all is bright” to “sleep in heavenly peace,” as we listen to the song and visualize the scene the often-elusive phenomenon of peace seems to permeate the gentle animals, the shepherds, the stars and the Star, and of course, Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus.

 

Hopefully at some point during Advent, at least a smidgen of peacefulness will come to us who too often are rushing around, throwing ourselves into a variety of work and laboring to satisfy the people we need or want to please with gifts or food or projects. Our expectations for the Christmas season are big — which makes it even worse when our energy is low.

 

Even more challenging, some of us come to this holy season bearing significant losses or fears: a death we know we can’t ‘get over;’ a job that is in jeopardy or already snatched away; a frightening health diagnosis for ourselves or loved ones; or perhaps a vague, sinking feeling that our future is far from bright.

 

That all can bring us a lot of anxiety — the polar opposite of what we are supposed to be feeling as we remember the birth of the Savior of the World.

 

Perhaps this marvelous little prayer from St. Francis de Sales can help us all to take a breath, reorient our thoughts and remember that God is.

 

Be at Peace

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;

rather look to them with full hope as they arise.

God, whose very own you are,

will deliver you from out of them.

He has kept you hitherto,

and He will lead you safely through all things;

and when you cannot stand it,

God will bury you in his arms.

 

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

the same everlasting Father who cares for you today

will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering,

or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace,

and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

 

All that is well and good — as long as we don’t derail God’s attempts to assist us. As in our earthly relationships, we must accept God’s gifts before we can benefit from them. 

 

In looking at this prayer, we realize that to be delivered, we must be willing to be led by Him. In order for Him to hold us, we can’t be like a squirmy, little child who wants “Down!”

 

God can care for us, putting good things into our paths, and we are free to brush the good stuff aside and even to go stomping off the path. 

 

Hard as it is to believe that anyone would prefer not to be shielded from suffering, some of us begin to go looking for trouble as soon as life calms down. And there is, indeed, such a thing as a victim or martyr complex — and the heck with the thought of drawing on strength given by God.

 

Finally, as most of us can testify, putting our anxious thoughts and gloomy imaginings aside is never automatic.

 

All that being said, there are extra graces this time of year that God is more than willing to provide. He really does love us; Jesus really is the Savior of the World — even of our little worlds — and heavenly peace does exist.

 

We may have to remind, and remind, and remind ourselves of God’s love. St. Francis’ prayer can help that reminding.

 

My wish for you this season is that holy peace.