The Word Of Peace
Homiletic Reflections On Peacemaking

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

June 30, 1996

 " Conversion --from being "thing-related" to being "people -centered'--seldom occurs in one cataclysmic flash of enlightenment but rather through a chain reaction of career-shocking, security-threatening experiences: experience in the love of others rather than the abstract morality that has corrupted this nation since the first slave was sold.

My own questioning started one night several years ago. My oldest daughter and I were discussing campus activities against Dow Chemical, a company producing napalm for Vietnam. Our conversation then swung to my work at Lockheed: designing the Poseiden missile with its cluster of nuclear warheads.

Showing real concern, she explained, " I'm worried, Dad. Pretty soon demonstrations will against your work."

I had engaged one of my colleagues in a philosophical discussion of religion and its meaning in daily life. He asked: " What do you think God wants you to do most of all ?" " Just what I'm doing, " I responded spontaneously. " to help build this missile to protect our country."

He commented me that I was fortunate in my conviction and the conversation died. But the dialogue continued to make me think. Was he beginning to struggle within himself ? Or was it a casual question with an offhand response ? Whatever, it disturbed me. But I had not yet learned to listen when disturbed ."

Elisha the prophet, one who is sent as a messenger of God, was welcomed into the home of a couple. God's word in the prophet, responded to it with the result that anew Their reward was a new life.

A new life in the new possibilities opened to them, when it seems that such things were foreclosed. They had been opened to and listened to GOD'S WORD in the prophet and now a new beginning was possible.

Jesus points this out most clearly. For him there is no other allegiance or loyalty--not even to one's family that can compete with his call to radical discipleship. Certainly, Jesus does not want to be the source of family break up. Rather he summons every member of every family to decide for him and the Father's kingdom. If done, these families will be built on the bedrock of God's love and peace,

Characterized by a lifestyle of mutual sharing and sacrifice. Such a lifestyle will shun such things as "conspicuous consumption " in a world where many of the " little ones" go to bed hungry, poor, sick, alone and fearful. It will be a lifestyle that is giving, concerned for charity and justice in a family that sees itself as an agent of God's transforming word realized in concrete actions.

Yet we cannot get by the challenging words of Jesus. We know so many people respond to these words by going out to serve the Church with great dedication. However, in the process they may lose, ignore or reject their families. In our time the need for positive adult role models is crucial which should help us to balance our lives in our commitments Surely Jesus wants us to do this ! However, there may be times when conscience dictates that we act in a way that may bring us into conflict with the other family members. This too, in responding to God's prophetic word may be required of us--not simply in obedience to Jesus, but also out of love. We not only have the right of conscience, we have the duty to give our conscience expression as an act of love.

We are not obliged to remain silent or tolerant when we believe that a fundamental value is at stake for ourselves, others, our nation or the world ! Id there be violence and injustice we are committed to bring to other's attention and move to remedy it. 

Such a response to Jesus is an acceptance of the cross. For like Jesus we take up our mission and responsibility, with a willingness to let go of our selfishness, and perhaps be willing to sacrifice our security, monetary rewards and physical well-being for the Kingdom of God.

Paul reminds us that such a lifestyle is the very essence of our baptismal vows, affirmed each time we celebrate the Eucharist.

The Church, all its members, are called to be a prophetic people.  Some seem to be called to be leaders in word and deed. To welcome them is to welcome Jesus himself. Some of them may be adults, people we least expect, at times we least expect. Some of them may be children, indeed, our very own ! Like Robert Aldrigde's daughter, our children are God's challenging word to us. They are God's word that may open up for us new and creative ways of living. In them God asks:  " In this world a suitable place for these " Little ones" ? " Can they thrive and grow ?" " If not, what can be done to make it so ?"

We know that a glass of cold water given to these "little ones" is etched into God's eternally grateful heart and mind--imagine a nation dedicated to the purity of drinking water for all children ! Imagine a world where people took up the cross to rid it of immanent destruction!

Imagine a world that all people felt was like a second home to them!

This is the prophetic mission of the Church in Jesus Christ--to bring a cold glass of water to a parched humanity and a parched earth !

On Jan. 2, 1973 Robert Aldridge tendered his resignation. We stated: "We are now past the point of no return."  During that last month I discussed my action with my co-workers. Some agreed with me and would like to do the same but the needs for security are too strong. That singular fear is the main obstacle to moral action.

In responding to God's word as other have done we too can be given the birth of new possibilities, in renewed commitment, in renewed loyalty to the Kingdom of God. Then and only then will the world become a place habitable for the " little ones."

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Uploaded June 30, 1996