Peace on earth begins with me.
Because how can I expect anything to change unless I am prepared to change myself?
The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tse wrote :
If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbours.
If there is to be peace between neighbours,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.
Archbishop Oscar Romero, a fervent champion of the poor and outspoken critic of powerful forces, was assassinated in 1980 whilst celebrating Mass in El Salvador, the day after he urged Salvadoran soldiers to obey God's higher order and to stop carrying out the government's repression and violations of basic human rights.
He wrote :
Peace is a product of justice.
But justice is not enough.
Love is necessary.
The love that makes us feel that we are brothers and sisters is properly what makes for true peace.
I may think that my actions cannot possibly make a difference, but as long as that is what we all think, change will never come, and, as they say, the mightiest river is made up of tiny drops of water.