St. Gregory of Nyssa and Peace

Meditation Three

What is peace? This is the third in a series of reflections on St. Gregory of Nyssa’s meditation about peace.

When you think about peace, you might be thinking about people or things attacking you from the outside. If you are being attacked, you think you can’t have peace. What really causes a lack of peace, however, is attacks from the inside. Your own hatreds, worries, doubts, judgments. These things and many others try to stir up your soul and make it lose peace. They try to make you see enemies and attack them.

A person who desires peace will calmly yet firmly tell these inner intruders that they must leave. They are not welcome as guests. No rooms will be prepared for them.

When these intruders no longer live with you then you can be at peace with yourself and with all the world.