“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14:27) Jesus authored for the world a peace entirely unlike that proselytized by the world’s militaries. The military believes in peace, through violence. Jesus’ early followers gave witness to the difference between the two. They were peacemakers not warmakers. Why aren’t all present day followers of Jesus peacemakers? Some go so far as to actively oppose Jesus’ Way of peacemaking and actively accept the military’s warmaking. They accept dominating commanders, who inflict suffering on people, and practice violence proselytizing it as the means of resolving conflicts.
The domination, suffering, and violence endemic to warfare are spreading. They’re dulling Christians to Jesus’ way of peace. Militarism’s values are dulling our character. They train us in submission to hierarchs rather than fidelity to conscience. At the same time we are being influenced to relate in deference to hierarchs (e.g. nationalism, status), we’re failing to relate as Jesus did in a communion of diversity. Militarism’s values are also dulling our imagination. They are influencing us toward aggressive dispositions especially against those who oppose us or merely disagree with us. At the same time we are riveted on how to hurt others, we are neglecting our essentially loving disposition to be of compassionate service. Militarism’s values of warfare are also dulling our skills, especially our coping skills. They are influencing us to inflict pain; in games, as entertainment, in economic austerity programs, and as political policy. At the same time we are training for or practicing violence, in its many forms, we are rejecting Jesus’ way of being creative and a healing power. We are less open to the many options available for designing peaceful solutions to conflicts.
Neither humanity nor any of the other living beings inhabiting our created world can continue to tolerate or be subjected to Militarism’s values of warfare. They are destructive. Jesus gave humanity another way, a life-giving way of peace. Disciples are called to live our commitment to Jesus’ way of peace especially during this time of being influenced by war and those who fight it? We can start by removing the values of warfare from our own faith community.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I commit myself to reconciliation, being more imaginative during conflicts, and acting in ways that bring healing.
Question: Am I clear in naming and rejecting the values of warmakers to thus accept and nurture my vocation as a peacemaker?
May 5, 2013 – Gospel John 14:23-29 Sixth Sunday of Easter