The Word Of Peace
Homiletic Reflections On Peacemaking

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

December 10, 2002

Waiting for Peace

Anyone w3ho has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.

I the cruel torture of crucifixion could not silence our Lord’s prayer for his enemies, what pain, pride, prejudice or sloth could justify the silencing of ours?

These are the reflections of the “Iron Chancellor”, Otto Von Bismarck of 19^th Century Germany and John Stott a 21^st century theologian. Both men point tot ht importance of human decisions especially as regards war and the Christian response to the grave nature of such decisions. This nation today is faced with the decision to go to war. It seems that that decision has been made without any prolonged or serious moral discussion on the part of God’s people. So often people forget that the “yes” that are called to give to God’s activity in our lives is directly made manifest in the decisions about how we are to live, how our nation is to live and how our world is to love.

We stand on the threshold of another Christmas celebration that is filled with joy at the birth of the Prince of Peace and yet we still live in a world of wars and rumors of wars. One may ask, what does this have to do with the visitation of the angel to the blessed mother? My response would be everything! Our blessed mother was asked by the Lord if she would be willing to be the sacred vessel of the Holy Spirit’s work in the world. She was asked to be the mother of the One to be named Jesus—the name meaning, “Yahweh saves.” Her response was “yes”. It was “yes” even if she did not know what it entailed and despite her fear. In fact, she is told not to be afraid, even though she does not see how God will work in her life in the son she will bear she is told to not be afraid. That is the way of the Christian life. God calls each one of us to be a bearer of Christ in the world and to be willing to say “yes” to God’s ways and lead even when we cannot see how they can succeed. The problems of our times, war, terror, racism and the like always seem to be so complex not amenable to simple answers. And so they are! But if we surrender to the Spirit’s work in our lives a new creation of unforeseen possibilities will emerge for us.

   That is the why Mary prays as she does. She realizes that God’s promise is coming to fulfillment in a way she may not understand but nevertheless trusts in it. In her son God will save the people. It will not be salvation that comes from massed armies and gods of metal, nor from slick political solutions. This is a salvation that comes from a change of heart that manifests itself in a new outward action by individuals, groups and nations. This change of heart will entail risks and there will be a price to paid in this sin-distorted world. But we are promised the final victory of God’s kingdom, God’s justice and God’s peace.

   The plan war against Iraq brings us up against the Prince of Peace. Is such a war moral and just according to Church teaching? There is serious doubt about that! Will more problems arise from such a war than are solved? Can we allow a nation like Iraq and a leader like Saddam Hussein to possess the weapons of terror we ourselves possess? Can such nations be trusted with them? Is it right that any nation hold the power to destroy the planet? In the light of our faith in the Lord Jesus what does all this require of us? Minimally it requires that we engage in a thoughtful moral discussion as a community which is offered in the bulletin. Maximally it means working for peace in prayer, study and political action. Such a life and a commitment to such a life is say “yes” to God that transcends the mere verbal or intellectual yes and results in a life a prayer and faithfulness in the outward expression to work for peace.

If we wish to give a gift to each other and to God let it be the one of a people committed to justice and peace and the hard work it requires. In that way we too and the world will state—“we are truly blessed.

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Created December 10, 2002