It is Easter Sunday and a day I have taken for rest.

I have always loved how multicultural, multireligious my country is. Our history has led us here, to a space where in the early dawn one can hear the Islamic call to prayer, and there are temples and churches in close proximity to each other, peacefully sharing each other’s parking spaces and supporting each other. In one week we have celebrated Hanumān Jayanti, persons are observing Ramaḍān and now it is Easter.

Over the past few years there have been more and more instances of intolerance, especially against the Hindu community, that hurts my heart. I think we need to do more to teach our citizens of our country’s history, and more about each other’s beliefs. I have hope for the future. And in the meantime, I pray for peace.

Today I share with you the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi which is also known as the prayer for peace:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled,

as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

I am more familiar with the hymn version “Make me a channel of your peace”, it was loved by my mother, and I share her love for it. I have memories of her singing it, as well as memories of it being sung at school.

All blessings as we move into this new week!

peace,

Renee Arundhati