Finding Inner Peace: Aligning Body, Mind, and Soul
“But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” ~ Lk 11:17
Today, I found myself baffled by the readings but a verse in the Gospel reading sparked an idea. This is the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11, verses 15 through 26.
In this scene, the Pharisees accuse Jesus of using the power of the devil to cast out demons, attempting to discredit him and tarnish his honor. Demons become a focal point in Jesus’ response, serving as a means to counter their accusations.
However, the exact meaning of this passage eludes me, but verse 17 caught my attention: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and house will fall against house.”
This phrase resonated with me and offered a unique perspective.
I began to envision myself, my body, mind, and soul, as a kingdom. What happens when this internal kingdom is divided, when the different facets of me are in discord?
It mirrors situations where I instinctively know the right path but choose the opposite, or instances where my conscience conflicts with my actions. The inner struggle, the battle between ego and spirit, or even physical disharmony in my body – all of these scenarios create a sense of chaos.
It feels as if I’m under attack by inner demons. Life becomes a turbulent storm of stress, burnout, negativity, and guilt. This internal conflict manifests in myriad ways, from stress and depression to addiction and anger. It’s as if I’m haunted by these inner demons, tearing my inner kingdom apart.
This wasn’t the intended message of the reading, but it’s what I took from it. The key, I believe, is aligning body, mind, and soul in accordance to God’s guidance. When these dimensions of myself are in harmony, life flows more smoothly. Stress and chaos recede, and a sense of inner peace prevails.
Question to explore: if you had to guess, what percentage of the time are you body, mind, and soul in alignment; and how often are they aligned with God’s path for you?
In peace,
~Juan
