“Blessed are the peacemakers ……” (Matthew 5:9)
In the first generation of Thebaid monks, Father Pahone had built himself a hut in the valley because he had grown old. He gave the cell he occupied on the hill to Abbe Georges, but he soon regretted it:
Hundreds of people came to Abbe Georges to hear the word of this saint. Consumed with envy, he sent a disciple to the saint, ordering him to leave the cell immediately.
We can already see that envy is a desire mixed with spite and resentment, inspired by the advantages, possessions and successes of others.
In the Christian religion, envy is one of the seven deadly sins.
For example: To feel envy. To arouse envy. To consider with an eye of envy. To be consumed by envy, etc.
The disciple went and spoke to Abbe Georges, saying:
– Father Pahone sends me to you with words of peace and asks for your prayers.
On his return, Father Pahone asked the disciple if he had passed on his orders correctly.
– I told him what he deserved.
And twice more.
This disciple behaved as a peacemaker, that is, as a “peacemaker”, just as the Lord himself did.
This implies being at peace with God, at peace with oneself, at peace with others, at peace with existence and with life.
When Abbe Georges still didn’t move from the cell, Father Pahone went up the hill with a stick to chase him away. Father Pahone, on the contrary, was not a peacemaker, but a warmaker.
Saint John Paul II said in his message for peace on January 1, 1984.
“War begins in the heart of man”.
The agile disciple ran ahead of him along another path and said to Abbe Georges:
– I couldn’t hold back my master. Though advanced in age, he climbed to the top of this hill to receive your blessing.
Georges went to meet Father Pahone, knelt before him and said:
– I thank you for the messages of love you have sent me. I’m not worth it.
Father Pahone then understood how his disciple had carried out his missions. He embraced Abbe Georges and, before returning to his hut, told him:
– Until now, you were my disciple and I was your master. From now on, you will teach me, for you know the ways of love better than I do.
I’d like to leave you with this prayer by Saint Teresa of Avila:
“Let nothing trouble you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing away.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.”
As Father Pahone’s disciple did, let’s make an effort not to tell others the bad things said about them.
The Marshallan must NOT be a messenger of angry words, but a peacemaker.
Dear Brothers, let us be peacemakers.