The Word Of Peace
Homiletic Reflections On Peacemaking

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti

Second Sunday of Easter - 1997

"I can't promise you that it won't get you beaten. I can't promise you that it won't get your house bombed. I can't promise you won't get scarred up a bit--but we must stand up for what is right. If you haven't discovered that is worth dying for, you haven't found anything worth living for."

These are the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King , jr. told to his followers before engaging in the march from Selma to Montgomery   Ala. in 1965. That 50 miles of highway was considered among the most dangerous for African-Americans to trod, especially those seeking equal voting rights. So what gave them the courage to do this?

The plain and simple fact was the deeply held belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ ! This belief grounded the efforts of those involved in the Civil Rights movement. Therefore, to understand the movement one has to see that this was primarily a religious movement. Once this is understood we can better understand how the emphasis on non-violent change was so consistently possible. This belief in the resurrection of Jesus empowered them to confront what they feared without becoming what oppressed them. It was a movement by which people offered other people and society a new beginning, a chance to re-create their lives and society based on the ethic of real love born from the hope of resurrection. This ethic was willing to accept pain, suffering and death in a non-violent love for those who opposed them. In this they trusted that the peace of God would be with them, and that God's justice would eventually triumph.

They took St. Paul at his word when he said, " you may for a time, have to suffer the distress of many trials"  Here were people who understood Christ's presence in their midst. Here the words, " Peace be with you", could be experienced first hand, because they were responding to Christ's call to go and teach. In doing this, despite their fears and risk of death, they were deepening communion with Jesus, sharing in his resurrection empowerment and peace. They believed without seeing, even when the cause seemed to be lost, or when fear tempted them to hide in the security of the way things were instead of the way they ought to be ! The result was a life lived in community that was willing to sacrifice for others, to share with others, to pray, to work and suffer for each other in the power of Jesus' resurrected presence.

The gospel today tells us of this sense of empowerment given to the early resurrection witnesses by the crucified and risen Lord. Despite our fears Christ comes among us, in ways that we do not always perceive right away ! We may be doubtful, require greater proof--which is certainly a very human response. After all, if we are going to risk everything we would like to know that we were doing so for something real ! This is Thomas' question . How do we know the risen Lord is among us?

Certainly we are told that the risen Lord was not immediately recognized until he showed his wounds. That is, he showed them that he was real, not a ghost, an hallucination, but the historical crucified Jesus, transformed into a new mode of reality. Also, that his identity which was only speculated at during his ministry, is now revealed to be the Christ of God. What's more , Jesus comes with forgiveness for the apostles, despite their fleeing from him.

The apostles rejoice at this. No longer is Jesus limited to the forces of this world, he has overcome them in the Father raising him from the dead. Jesus was right ! He is with us! We will share this new life! The creation will not simply disappear, it too will be transformed. Indeed, the Easter message is that in Jesus God gives us a future, beginning here and now ! Resurrection faith is about a new beginning, a transforming existence in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That will explain why the early Christian community behaved the way they did. They recognized that in the resuurection of Jesus God was beginning the "end times", not by destroying what is but by transforming it. Jesus calls his Church to work with the Holy Spirit to help bring this about.

We know of many places and events which offer and result in transformation. In our personal lives resurrection faith can have the effect of beginning relationships anew that seems to have no future. In our business lives in means bringing the transforming power of the resurrection to responsible corporate decision making that results in a better environment, just wages and community development; for nations it means having the courage to re-think old ways and old grudges to begin a new chapter in human history, committed to building peace founded on justice.

Resurrection faith calls us to this despite our fears, even our fear of death ! It is because Jesus is raised from the dead that we can trust God to give us a future. Now empowered by this faith we can truly live, liberated from the stifling effects of our fear of death. We can live as generous, just and peace-seeking people, because we know that is our future with God!

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Uploaded January 14, 2000