It was Friday evening and as usual Sister Martha had called at the Parish House on her way home to the Convent. She sat in the large living room with Father Ignatius enjoying a lovely cup of tea and ginger biscuits whilst watching the news on TV.
Some person or other had been nominated for a Peace Prize because of his work around the world.
“What a great honour,” said Sister Martha, “to be nominated for having tried to establish a little peace in this troubled world.”
“Yes indeed,” replied the priest picking up another ginger biscuit.
“Reminds me of the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi … Make me a channel of your peace,” continued the nun, “it must be wonderful to have spent one’s life furthering the cause of peace. It should bring a smile to God’s face” she concluded chortling silently.
“There isn’t much to make God smile nowadays,” said Father Ignatius, “so someone like this person doing his bit for peace should bring a great smile in Heaven!”
“This makes me wonder …” she said, “does someone have to be a Christian to be a channel of God’s peace? What if someone has no faith at all, a total un-believer? And he works hard for peace … is he God’s channel or not? What do you think Ignatius?”
The priest put his cup of tea down and pondered for a minute or so whilst she switched off the TV.
“I believe our God wishes Peace on this earth,” said Father Ignatius softly, “Christ used to welcome people with the words ‘Peace be with you’,
“But I don’t think that it is a condition for God to use us as a channel of His peace that we should have Faith.
“God can and will use anyone in the right circumstances to do His will on earth and to further His Kingdom. If someone with no Faith at all is in the right place and at the right time then I believe God will use him. That person with no Faith may not even know that he is guided by God, yet he will be a channel of God’s peace all the same.
“Remember Moses was hesitant at first, when approached by God, citing his stammer as an impediment to the task ahead. But God chose him anyway.
“Paul had no Faith whatsoever. He was a declared enemy of God; in fact he fought God by killing the followers of Jesus. If ever there was a man chosen to further God’s Kingdom on earth Paul was such a man. But look where he started from … an un-believer with no Faith.
“No Martha, I don’t think one needs to be a Christian to be a channel of God’s peace.
“To be a channel for God’s use we need to be willing to listen to Him, to obey Him and to trust Him in every respect.”
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