Peace Is Only Found In Yes

Written by Elaina Jo Polovick on Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

As the semester is coming to a close (more quickly than I want to accept) I have started seeing deadlines approaching. I think about all the events I need to plan and decisions I need to make about choosing which graduate school I’ll attend next year. I know that now is the time to say yes, but I’ve been struggling to find peace in my yes. I was struck by today’s reading from Ezekiel where we are called to say yes to the covenant that God offers us:

 I will make with them a covenant of peace;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them,
and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever.
My dwelling shall be with them;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Unlike many things in our busy lives there is no deadline to respond to this offer from God. When I reflect on this covenant in which God offers us peace and unconditional love, I find myself feeling more open to saying yes. In saying yes to God’s promise of peace I have begun to find peace in my yes to the graduate school I’m being called to. As I struggled to pray about my yes, I came across this prayer: Peace is only found in yes.  (Anthony de Mello, SJ)

This resonated deeply with me. I found myself saying yes to God’s covenant, and finally to the graduate school I believe I’m being called to. As I say this yes, I feel a peacefulness within myself. Peace is found in saying yes.

Questions for Reflection:
What are you called to say yes to?
How can we enter into God’s covenant of peace more fully as we prepare to enter into Holy Week?

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Elaina Jo Polovick
Elaina Jo is one of the peer ministers at St. Mary Student Parish. She works with the special events team as well as a smattering of other programs.
Email: epolovick@smspnewman.org