To say that we want to live a quiet and peaceful life is not something that we can easily take for granted.
If we say that a quiet and peaceful life does not sound exciting and that we want to have some thrills and spills of life, then we need to think again.
In other parts of the world, there are more than thrills and spills.
It is actually tension and even oppression, and it is day in day out, and where people live from hand to mouth and wondering if they will be alive to see the next day.
For them, even though they long for quiet and peace, it is also like something that is beyond imagination.
As for us who live in a peaceful and secure environment, it can be difficult to imagine the reality of what Jesus is saying in the gospel.
Even the stress and tensions of our lives are hardly anything like the tension and oppression that people face in other regions of the world.
Yet, it is our duty to pray for those who are suffering oppression, persecution and mortal danger.
We pray that God will protect them and keep them from danger and harm.
Let us not take peace and stability for granted, and let us pray that God will make His gift of salvation known so that there can be reconciliation and peace.