The Word Of Peace
Homiletic Reflections On Peacemaking

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

September 2001

Don’t fear me Kay. I tried to protect you and the children from the violence of this world. What I did was directed toward protecting my family. I did the best I could to protect my family from the horrors of this world. But Michael, in doing so you became my horror.

These are the words of Michael Corleone, the Godfather, to his wife Kay in the Godfather III film. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Francis Ford Coppola for having the courage to make the three films on organized crime. Coppola’s three films are filled with the hypocrisy of such a life. His contrast of religious symbolism with the violence of the family life of Corleone’s revealed a necessary truth. That truth is clear—we cannot, and must not allow family loyalties or any other for that matter, to get in the way of a full and uncompromising commitment to Jesus Christ. This is what Coppola begs for in the films. Throughout the films we see what happens when people allow something other than one’s relationship to Christ to dictate their thoughts, loyalty and behavior. The results are clear; murder violence, deceit, and self-protection. More evil has been committed in the name of loyalty to something other than the truth embodied in Christ in this world than perhaps for any other reason.

The concept of family loyalty that we see in the Godfather has lesser versions in families where alcoholism, addictions, violence and abuse are present. All the members are expected to play various roles and to remain loyal to family to give the outward appearance that all is well. Loyalty to such a situation demands that we live a lie. It enables the dysfunctional behavior to continue and results in profound personal wounds that may take years to mend. This happens in the Church as well. Being comprised of human beings that may forget just where their true loyalty lies, not in themselves, not in their outward appearance of holiness but in Jesus Christ in the fullness of truth. If this is not the case, then its time for repentance and reconciliation in the power of the Spirit.

Our Lord’s words may seem hard this day. But are they really? Is not the Lord sparing us the ordeal of the endless sins that visit us and our community all in the name of family loyalty? Is it not healthier to live in the truth of Christ that allows us to admit our failures and needs and seek healing? Is this not especially so for those officially and formally ministering in the Church? If Christ is the ultimate loyalty of my life then the answer to these questions must be yes! If not then the evil done in the name of other loyalties will continue to take their toll.

This is the point that St. Paul is trying to make to Philemon. Philemon still has a fundamental loyalty to the surrounding culture and the way things have always been. He sees Onesimus as a slave and servant—even if he treated him like a brother. We can never by truly brothers and sisters if a form of slavery exists between us. The loyalty one owes to cultural assumptions, self-centered concern with reputation and personal comfort may have to be radically altered or abolished if it pits us against the other as not being equal in dignity and accorded the respect owed to the other. So, Paul tries to persuade his friend that the time is ripe for a new way of relating to his servant—not as servant but as brother. That is an expression of the loyalty to Jesus Christ in the world.

We too then have to come to grips with this most challenging summons of Jesus. I often ask myself, what seems to be getting in the way of giving my ultimate loyalty to Jesus Christ? Is it wanting to be thought well of by other members of the Church? Is it wanting God to answer my prayers in the way I want God to do so? Is it being afraid to show people that I am imperfect? If the answer is yes to these questions then I know my conversion of heart has some ways to go! But think of it, if I can be honest with myself in this fashion I have already made a critical step toward healing and salvation. This goes for the individual and the society at large. In a world still yearning to be free of violence, injustice, wars and threats of war we know that there is a long way to go. At the crux of many of the issues that we face in this world is where one’s loyalty lie and this determines the depth and breadth of the problems. For the 20 the century the nation-state, the Duce, Fuhrur etc… became a considerable challenge to the loyalty owed Jesus Christ and we saw the results. In our day, violence in our schools, streets, TVs, music reveal where loyalty lies—consumer demand for violence. How did we get here? Look at where loyalties are directed then we will know.

To be a prisoner for Jesus Christ is to not be a prisoner at all but the freest of the free. Such people have stripped away all of the illusionary loyalties that pervert the human spirit the world around them and have discovered eternal truth. That is, that the only thing worth giving our loyalty is to the embodiment of the Absolute love of God that we find in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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