Scripture
Nahum 2: 1, 3: 1-3, 6-7
See, upon the mountains there advances
the bearer of good news,
announcing peace!
Celebrate your feasts, O Judah,
fulfill your vows!
For nevermore shall you be invaded
by the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed.
The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob,
the pride of Israel,
Though ravagers have ravaged them
and ruined the tendrils.Woe to the bloody city, all lies,
full of plunder, whose looting never stops!
The crack of the whip, the rumbling sounds of wheels;
horses a-gallop, chariots bounding,
Cavalry charging, the flame of the sword, the flash of the spear,
the many slain, the heaping corpses,
the endless bodies to stumble upon!
I will cast filth upon you,
disgrace you and put you to shame;
Till everyone who sees you runs from you, saying,
“Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity her?
Where can one find any to console her?”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Ignatian Reflection
Lasting Peace
Today’s first reading is something of a head spinner, starting out with a bearer of good news proclaiming peace. But then the prophet Nahum abruptly delivers the blood and guts of all-out warfare as he predicts the destruction of Nineveh.
“Piles of dead, bodies without number, people stumbling over the corpses!”
I’d just read “The Greatest Battle,” Andrew Nagorski’s riveting account of the World War II struggle for Moscow, a brutal fight waged between two monsters, Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin and involving millions of soldiers. Nahum’s description of war seems so relevant to our own recent – and present -- history.
Jesus told us to love our enemies. Yet war continues. And today, our Church still discusses and reexamines Just War Theory in a time of warfare throughout the world. Can we implore the Prince of Peace to guide us to bring lasting peace in our troubled times?
—Effie Caldarola has a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Seattle University. She was a longtime columnist for Catholic News Service and now writes for OSV.
Ignatian Prayer
Aug 7, 2026
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you conquered death without weapons or violence: you shattered its power with the strength of peace. Grant us your peace, as you did to the women filled with doubt on Easter morning, as you did to the disciples who were hiding in fear. Send forth your Spirit, the breath that gives life and reconciles, that turns adversaries and enemies into brothers and sisters.
—Taken from Pope Leo XIV’s prayer for peace April, 2026
The Daily Examen is a prayer technique developed by St. Ignatius to help us reflect on the events of the day to discern God's presence and direction. When Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, he required the Jesuits to practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It's a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.
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Daily Examen
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God, I believe that at this moment I am in your presence and you are loving me.
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God, you know my needs better than I know them. Give me your light and your help to see how you have been with me, both yesterday and today.
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God, help me to be grateful for the moments when people have affirmed me and challenged me. Help me to see how I have responded, and whether I have been kind to others and open to growth.
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God, forgive me for when I have not done my best or have failed to treat others well. Encourage me, guide me, and continue to bless me.
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As I look to the remainder of this day, make me aware that you are with me. Show me how to be the person you want me to be.
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