Independence from violence is the life witness of those who follow Jesus. In this Sunday’s Gospel, James and John are not yet giving witness to following Jesus. Samaritans have rejected Jesus. James and John want to “rain down fire” upon the Samaritans. Jesus rebukes both saying, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy lives, but to save them.” Dependence on violence shows we are something other than disciples of Jesus Christ. We may be citizens instead.
There are critical differences between citizens and disciples. Citizens pledge alliance to a particular nation as in Rome or Russia or the United States. Jesus never pledged alliance to a nation, certainly not Rome. Early disciples true to Jesus never did either. So too, modern day disciples do not pledge alliance to Russia or the United States. Jesus replaced citizenship with discipleship. He replaced being ruled with being conscientious. He replaced nationalism with the Community of God, a Community for all people. These are real differences. Citizens promote the values of their nation, which includes violence. Disciples give witness to Jesus’ values, which, as the Gospel shows, includes a rejection of violence. Citizens are convinced freedom comes as the result of war. Hence, U.S. citizens are told they’re free because of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican American War, Civil War, WW War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Afghanistan War, Iraq War, and all the other smaller wars fought in between, and all the wars yet to come, … ad nausea. Disciples know we can be free of all the violence of all the many kingdoms of Caesar and all their many wars. In Christ, we are nurturing a new relationship model with a far greater expanse. We are peacemakers, co-creators of a peaceful Community of God.
Christ Jesus frees people from the deviance of warmaking and thus the gods who condoned it. Jesus frees us from Shiva of the Indo-Aryans, from Ares of the Greeks, from Mars of the Romans, from Yahweh of the Hebrews, from Allah of the Muslims, and from all the other War Lord deities. Jesus frees us for a Spirit of peacemaking. Disciples’ mission for peace replaces a citizen’s penchant for war.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, keep me free for peacemaking.
Question: Am I free to follow a peacemaker?
June 30, 2013 – Gospel Luke 9:51-62 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Fourth of July