Jesus’ “two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way to Emmaus, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, Jesus stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
People who know Jesus know he spends his life sharing a message and witness for peace. He follows up his consistent words for peace with consistent actions for peace. Jesus never vows revenge against people who hurt him. He is never retaliatory, never cruel towards people who have been cruel towards him. Jesus never speaks or acts violently. Yet violence is regarded by some people as godly. Practitioners of godly violence have dominated the world from ancient times onward. They have gone so far as to dominate institutional christianity absorbing most of its members into their ethic of violence. As such, institutional christianity, though naming itself after a peacemaker, Jesus Christ, rarely shares a message or a witness for peace. It too frequently spawns consistent words and actions for war. There are however some disciples of the peaceful Jesus who remain active for peacemaking in word and deed. They are helping the world know peace. Included among these are Nonviolent Peaceforce. They provide unarmed groups of individuals to accompany and work alongside local peacemakers. Peaceforce members are present in daily situations for conflict resolution trainings to help locals create a community of peace. Members are also present in conflict situations to ensure peace is not disrupted by militant agitators, often times bought and paid for by corporations with their own police force. Also, Quaker Peace Network is making peace known. Members are peacemaking followers of Jesus who also provide trainings in conflict resolution. They too operate violence prevention services and accompany vulnerable individuals who are filing reports with the police or the courts to ensure they are kept safe. Also, Community Peacemaker Teams is presently focused on bringing peace to Gaza. Team members accompanying persons working nonviolently to defend their rights and communities. They advocate for the Palestinian people who are experiencing violent oppression. They work to uphold Human Rights and make needed observations and reports so that the people’s oppressors stop their violence. These and other peace communities are practitioners of peacemaking working for active change to end the disaster that is warmaking.
“A voice from the dark called out, ‘The poets must give us imagination of peace, to oust the intense, familiar imagination of disaster. Peace, not only the absence of war.’ But peace.“ (Making Peace – Denise Levertov)
Prayer: Spirit of Peace, give us the imagination and the commitment to be peacemakers.
Question: To whom can I make it known that war is disaster and peace is our calling?
April 14, 2024 Gospel Luke 24:35-48 Third Sunday of Easter