It is good to back at the Carmelite monastery here in Jackson to celebrate with all of you. I always enjoy coming out here. We hear the beginning of the 2nd letter of Peter in our first reading today. What a joyful beginning it gives us, as Peter wishes the Churches he is writing to in Asia Minor that grace and peace be theirs in abundance through knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord - what a wonderful wish to bestow upon the the readers of this letter. I think all of us want to experience the peace, grace, and love of Christ in our lives, but often it is beyond the reality of our lives. We live in our world where anger, resentment, and impatience can cling to our souls. We just look at how drivers lash our at each other on the roads. At how mean people are to us other on the social media. How so many in society turn their backs on God’s loves and commandments, thinking that it is all relative, and that these laws and commandments do not apply to them. We want knowledge of God and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, but often that knowledge and that experience seems so far away, doesn’t it?
The letter of Peter goes on to name virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, devotion, mutual affection, and virtue are those ideals that will help us on our journey of faith. Quite lofty ideals, but ideals nonetheless that we should strive toward. The psalmist tells us that we must put our trust in the Lord. Above all, putting out trust in the Lord and living out the values of our faith - that will bring us God’s peace and grace.
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