Apostles for Today July - 2026

 UNION OF THE CATHOLIC APOSTOLATE
APOSTLES FOR TODAY
July-2026

 Louis Shu

Peace Among the Youngest

"The joy and freshness of those who approach life without filters or preconceptions helps to build true relationships in Jesus, the perfect Love that is God. Sharing life experiences." “Peace be with you.” These are the words of the Risen Christ. In John's Gospel, Jesus repeats these words three times after His Resurrection (John 20:19, 21, 26). Throughout Sacred Scripture, peace is a recurring theme, appearing hundreds of times in both the Old and New Testaments. It is also the greeting chosen by Pope Leo XIV in his first address to the faithful:

"Peace be with you all. It is the peace of the Risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all unconditionally." When we hear the word "peace," many of us naturally think of peace in the worldly sense: peace on earth, no fighting, no violence, no conflict. While these are certainly important, what is the meaning of spiritual peace?

To understand spiritual peace, we first need to reflect on the imago Dei—the understanding that we are made in the image and likeness of God. The Bible presents a vision of the human person in which the spiritual dimension exists alongside the physical, social, and historical dimensions of our lives. Spiritual peace is built upon knowing that God loves us. It is a peace that strikes us at our very core and originates from a right relationship with God. But let's be real—what does peace actually offer us?

In the Old Testament, peace is presented as a gift from God (Psalm 29:11), a result of covenant faithfulness (Leviticus 26:6), and a vision of future restoration (Isaiah 9:7). In the New Testament, peace is portrayed not merely as the absence of conflict, but as wholeness, reconciliation, and the active presence of God's grace. It is shown as a gift from Jesus (John 14:27), the result of being reconciled with God (Romans 5:1), and a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Today, peace continues to draw us closer to God. In a world where power is often mistaken for strength and conflict is sometimes justified in the name of peace, Jesus offers us a different path. His example challenges us not merely to speak about peace, but to become instruments of it. Jesus’ example challenges us not only to speak about peace, but to actively participate in transformation so that we may become true images of God.

This requires more than simply following a routine. As Catholics, we rightly value spiritual disciplines such as prayer, the daily

examen, participation in the sacraments, attendance at Mass, and time spent in silence with God. Yet faith is not a checklist. These practices bear fruit only when they lead us into a living relationship with Christ. True peace is found when we approach God and others without excessive judgment, prejudice, or preconceptions, and when we allow ourselves to encounter Christ genuinely in the ordinary moments of life. It is then that our faith becomes vibrant, living, and transformative. 

When we have peace, it means we have learned how to slow our lives down. We begin to remove the filters, preconceptions, judgments, and prejudices that can so easily consume us. 

We quieten the noise and distractions around us and become able to listen deeply—to our conscience, to our soul, and to the ever-calling Spirit of God. In Father Jacques Philippe's modest but profound book Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart, he offers this beautiful metaphor: "Consider the surface of a lake, above which the sun is shining. If the surface of the lake is peaceful and tranquil, the sun will be reflected in this lake; and the more peaceful the lake, the more perfectly will it be reflected. If, on the contrary, the surface of the lake is agitated and undulating, then the image of the sun cannot be reflected in it." It is a deeply simple yet profound insight. Our souls can only truly reflect God's love and grace when they are calm and anchored in Him. The peace promised to us by Jesus Christ two millennia ago flowers only in the soil of a serene heart.

A serene heart requires us to let go and to reach out to all people, recognizing that we are brothers and sisters in God's family, made possible through the saving blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:19).

One of the greatest examples of approaching life without preconceptions is St. Vincent Pallotti. Long before many people spoke about inclusion and collaboration, St. Vincent recognized that every baptized person—regardless of social class, education, gender, or status—was called to be an apostle. He sought to break down barriers that divide people and to unite them in the mission of Christ.

His words continue to resonate today:

"We are called to rekindle faith and reawaken charity in the hearts of all." This simple statement captures the heart of peacebuilding. Peace cannot exist without faith and charity. When faith is rekindled, people rediscover their identity as beloved children of God. 

When charity is reawakened, they begin to see one another not as strangers, competitors, or opponents, but as brothers and sisters in Christ.

When we break down barriers of hierarchy, wealth, status, and all the things that divide us, we begin to recognize one another more fully as members of God's family. In God's eyes we are all equal. It is often our attachment to worldly attractions that creates division, builds ego, and distances us from one another.

This requires more than simply following a routine. As Catholics, we rightly value spiritual disciplines such as prayer, the daily examen, participation in the sacraments, attendance at Mass, and time spent in silence with God. Yet faith is not a checklist. These practices bear fruit only when they lead us into a living relationship with Christ. True peace is found when we approach God and others without excessive judgment, prejudice, or preconceptions, and when we allow ourselves to encounter Christ genuinely in the ordinary moments of life. It is then that our faith becomes vibrant, living, and transformative. When we have peace, it means we have learned how to slow our lives down. We begin to remove the filters, preconceptions, judgments, and prejudices that can so easily consume us. 

We quieten the noise and distractions around us and become able to listen deeply—to our conscience, to our soul, and to the ever-calling Spirit of God. In Father Jacques Philippe's modest but profound book Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart, he offers this beautiful metaphor: "Consider the surface of a lake, above which the sun is shining. If the surface of the lake is peaceful and tranquil, the sun will be reflected in this lake; and the more peaceful the lake, the more perfectly will it be reflected. If, on the contrary, the surface of the lake is agitated and undulating, then the image of the sun cannot be reflected in it." It is a deeply simple yet profound insight. Our souls can only truly reflect God's love and grace when they are calm and anchored in Him. The peace promised to us by Jesus Christ two millennia ago flowers only in the soil of a serene heart. A serene heart requires us to let go and to reach out to all people, recognizing that we are brothers and sisters in God's family, made possible through the saving blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:19).

One of the greatest examples of approaching life without preconceptions is St. Vincent Pallotti. Long before many people spoke about inclusion and collaboration, St. Vincent recognized that every baptized person—regardless of social class, education, gender, or status—was called to be an apostle. He sought to break down barriers that divide people and to unite them in the mission of Christ. His words continue to resonate today:

"We are called to rekindle faith and reawaken charity in the hearts of all." This simple statement captures the heart of peacebuilding. Peace cannot exist without faith and charity. When faith is rekindled, people rediscover their identity as beloved children of God. When charity is reawakened, they begin to see one another not as strangers, competitors, or opponents, but as brothers and sisters in Christ.

When we break down barriers of hierarchy, wealth, status, and all the things that divide us, we begin to recognize one another more fully as members of God's family. In God's eyes we are all equal. It is often our attachment to worldly attractions that creates division, builds ego, and distances us from one another.

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