Mother Teresa: Reflects on Working Toward Peace

The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service is peace.

Let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us use love and compassion. Peace begins with a smile. Smile five times a day at someone you don't really want to smile at; do it for peace. Let us radiate the peace of God and so light His light and extinguish in the world and in the hearts of all men all hatred and love for power. Today, if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other-that man, that woman, that child is my brother or my sister. If everyone could see the image of God in his neighbor, do you think we would still need tanks and generals?

Peace and war begin at home. If we truly want peace in the world, let us begin by loving one another in our own families. If we want to spread joy, we need for every family to have joy.

Today, nations put too much effort and money into defending their borders. They know very little about the poverty and the suffering that exist in the countries where those bordering on destitution live. If they would only defend these defenseless people with food, shelter, and clothing, I think the world would be a happier place.

The poor must know that we love them, that they are wanted. They themselves have nothing to give but love. We are concerned with how to get this message of love and compassion across. We are trying to bring peace to the world through our work. But the work is the gift of God.

I noticed similar thoughts and point of views after reading different writings and songs from important figures from the 20th century and 21st century. They all propose and suggest similar solution for achieving peace. Regardless of their belief and ethnicity, peace approaches and befriends them in the exact same manner. Until now, I have been writing about the figures from the Christianity and their views on peace and from next few posts, I hope to discuss about the thoughts on peace from other religions, so that we may be able to see that peace truly is ecumenical and how it relates to the works of HWPL and Chairman Man Hee Lee. Because it seems that the wave of HWPL is spreading across the globe and it seems to be the organization with the largest activities regarding peace in this decade.