Only the faithful children of God know true peace.
In this time of Advent we are preparing our hearts for the Prince of Peace, learning to repent by confessing our selfishness and pride, our envy and disobedience, our rash judgements and lack of love. The true path to holiness is one of humble trust in God, not relying on our own merits or plans.
All too easily we can get caught up in our own ideas about what we should be doing, and we forget that salvation is a gift from God that we cannot earn on our own. By humbly cooperating with God’s Will, we can have peace in our hearts and lives here and now despite whatever trials and struggles may come to us.
Our humble submission to the Will of God is beautifully lived out in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through this gift and Sacrament of God, we learn to practice true repentance. Paired with our daily examination of conscience, Confession teaches us that we are accountable to God for our thoughts words and actions. Through Confession we learn to humble ourselves before God.
One of the surest signs of a “hard heart” or a heart that has become impervious to the love of God, is a heart that does not ask God for forgiveness in the Sacrament. He goes before God asking for forgiveness, but is ready with excuses, self-justifications and reasons for why his faults are really the faults of others. He says, “I would be much better, but I have to deal with wicked people who only understand wickedness.”
The true peace of God is given to his children who are actively struggling to humble themselves, admit their faults and failings and want to love God with their whole heart.