The Word Of Peace
Homiletic Reflections On Peacemaking

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

August 2001

Two years ago last February I received news that my doctoral project had been accepted and that I would be receiving the Doctor in Ministry degree in May of that year. I was elated to say the least and I called my wife and children who were away in Florida visiting a close friend of the news. Yet, as good I thought that was it fell far short of what the ends of such degrees are: the desire to help on flesh out a commitment to Christ in such a way that it helps other to do so as well. The jury is still out on this verdict as it must be until that day when I meet the Son of Man. But in God’s gracious love for me the Lord has helped to understand that unless I have the Love of Christ act the center of my life I cannot really serve. That is a tall order and I continue to wrestle with what is required of me and what I want.

After Nirvana, comes the Laundry. This Zen saying reminds us that the life of faith requires of all of us a day to day commitment. That is the essence of the parable that we hear in Luke. Each day is when we live our faith and make our choice for or against Jesus. We are all well aware that the choice for or against Jesus takes place in the everyday and not simply at our religious gatherings. That is, this choice for the Lord happens under the signs of the everyday and in the ordinary circumstances of our lives. It also takes place in the intercourse between nations and communities. This was the essence of the concern of President Woodrow Wilson after the First World War.

When President Wilson presented his 14 points for a new world order he was reminding the people of his day that things had to change in the present if the future was to be one of prosperity and peace. Wilson also warned that if the many proposals that he advocated were ignored or rejected that such would sow the wind and reap the whirlwind—which as history demonstrates happened with the Second World War. Wilson knew things had to change in the present. That is what we are called to as well.

We are reminded that the Son of Man may come at any time and will we be prepared? This is a question to be answered by each person. Of course, we know what is required of us—each day a choice to prepare by living out to the best of our ability the gospel. But what can happen to me and so many others is that we get caught up in distractions and the frantic pace of modern living. One has only to drive on the highways of our nation to not the pace of life—65mph is not enough we must go 80-90mph. Why? No one is sure but we have to do it! Pretty soon life is over and one has not prepared for the coming of the Son of Man. For many such a situation would be a cause for dread and regret.

Certainly, if one has lead a misspent life there is cause for concern and regret. But we must be careful here. The parable our Lord tells us is not to provoke anxiety but conversion. The reason for this conversion is clear—the one who is coming is the one who died out of love for you and me. His coming is not be an occasion for dread but for rejoicing. And those that have been preparing all along will know the joy of Christ much more fully because they will know who and how to receive the One who has returned. The decision in faith each day to trust the Lord and the Lord’s promise to return is to prepare for that day. This attitude and surrender in trust manifests itself in the concrete in acts of justice, charity, compassion, mercy, and peacemaking. Among such things peacemaking is critical to Christian life. Furthermore, we know that this peace we seek, which is our heritage in Christ cannot be fully realized to any extent if injustice lives in our world.

So often from the pulpit we say such things as if these things were easy to live—they are not if we rely only on our own power. Only in a surrender to faith in Christ can we be true agents of peace. In this surrender we are not concerned about being right, and especially not about being self-righteous, but about doing right. That is faith. It allows us not get anxious about results but in faith commits itself to act and to move where the Lord wills. It has taken me 45 years to really understand this truth. I often mouthed the truth of these things but did not allow them into the center of my life.

The Son of Man will come one day and we will either be open to receive the Lord or we will struggle to accept the revolution the Lord brings. Another way to put it—if living in the present in the presence of the Lord is our chief desire and we effort this daily we will joyfully accept this presence and arrival of the Lord. If not, then it will come as a day of shock that all we have invested our energy is was for nothing or very little. Yes, we must make a living, pay our bills, send the kids to college, but we, to be prepared will make that decision for Christ in the now so we will prepared to meet the Lord of love when that day comes. Then dread will not enter our hearts only the joy of anticipation and the anticipation of joy.

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Created October 6, 2001