HAVE A DAYDREAM:
Be a Peacemaker
Excerpts from His Excellency Archbishop Gregory Aymond's homily to the students of Archbishop Shaw and the Academy of Our Lady
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HAVE A DAYDREAM:
We gather in order to celebrate Saint John Bosco and, as we do so, we remember that some people have dreams and they remember their dreams.
I’m sure you heard of this before but Saint John Bosco had a dream at the age of nine. A dream that he always remembered and that changed his life. The dream was that he was in a field crowded with children. They were calling each other names; making fun of one another. All of a sudden, there was a face that appeared like the sun in the sky. As he looked up, John was told by this face, this messenger of God: “teach them not to fight. Be a peacemaker. Do not allow this fighting to continue”.
He asked: “how is this possible? I’m just a little kid.” Then he realized from the messenger that nothing is impossible with God. So he asked them not to fight; to accept one another in love.
Being a peacemaker, my sisters and brothers, was a turning point in the life of Saint John Bosco. Do you see yourself as a peacemaker today? If we want to be followers of his example and followers of Jesus, we will want to say yes to that question. Do we see ourselves as peacemakers today when people are not getting along in our class, in our school and at home?
There is a war of words where people use words to hurt one another. There is racism: because of the color of one’s skin, we make snide comments. There is bullying and peer pressure. Where there is unhealthy competition. There is social media that uses one another; criticizes another. There is revenge.
My sisters and brothers, the point for you and for me, for you as the young Church (the Church of which we are so proud) is that we can be like John Bosco and be agents and instruments of peace.
There are opportunities in school; there are opportunities at home and in the community. There are opportunities in our parishes. John Bosco didn’t just stand around, looking for something to do. He did something about it. He knew what Jesus was asking of him and he did it. Do you and I do the same?
It’s an important question, especially in the world that we live in that is so divided. You, the young Church, have the opportunity to reflect John Bosco and be peacemakers. I challenge you to do that. I challenge myself with that. We have to be people who can be reconciled with one another.
How is it that we can become peacemakers? To be at peace, we have to be open to the peace of Jesus that is offered to each and every one of us.
What is peace? Peace is knowing that you and I are loved by God. We are loved with a love that is beyond compare; that is beyond our understanding. We are truly loved by God and we are never, ever alone.
Being at peace is knowing that God forgives us. There is no sin so great that God will not forgive. That’s being at peace with our God.
Let me be clear: we cannot be peacemakers unless we accept the peace of Jesus.
My sisters and brothers, I ask you not to stay in your dreams at night, but to have a daydream: that God has offered you peace…as we receive His Body and Blood. Show that peace to others.
So I beg you today: have a daydream. That dream is to be a peacemaker.
His Excellency Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond is the 14th Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
In 1971, he received his undergraduate degree from St. Joseph Seminary College. In 1975, he received a master's degree in divinity from Notre Dame Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Archbishop Aymond was ordained auxiliary bishop of New Orleans in 1997, named Bishop of Austin in 2000, and appointed Archbishop of New Orleans in 2009.
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