(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Friday morning, 21 September 2018–United Nations International Day of Peace and the first day of the International Lasallian Days of Prayer for Peace)

Let us remember we are in the holy presence of a loving God.

Today on September 21st we celebrate Saint Matthew the Apostle and evangelist and we begin our month long journey of International Lasallian Days for Peace. It seems only appropriate that we should “ignite our hearts of peace” on the same day that we celebrate Saint Matthew each year. Our community is particularly blessed this morning to be able to gather together and share in the Eucharist after hearing today’s gospel. Saint Matthew followed Jesus Christ as soon as he was called. Today we are called by Jesus Christ to wage peace in this same way—with a sense of urgency and immediacy. Not simply to be peaceful but to ignite our hearts of peace in order to combat seemingly endless war and violence that surrounds our earth. This work will not be easy and Saint John Baptist de La Salle writes in his reflection on Saint Matthew that you should not expect any other rewards when you wage peace well than to suffer persecution, injuries, insults, and curses.  In addition, people will accuse you falsely of all sorts of evil. Rejoice when this happens, and leap for joy, because a great reward will be reserved for you in heaven, for it was in this way that they persecuted the Prophets before you. Be convinced that such persecutions will draw on you the grace of God in abundance and his blessings on your works of Peace.

Let Us Pray,

Lord, God, we pray for all Lasallians near and far, that we may experience peace in our own lives, and that we may be beacons of peace for those around us and around the world.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle… Pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts… Forever.

Mark Carty–Social Studies Teacher