The Word Of Peace
Homiletic Reflections On Peacemaking

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

January 23, 2000

Called to Follow, Now!

On Sept. 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri, Japan signed the instrument of surrender officially ending WWII in the Pacific. Gen. Douglas MacArthur signed for the Allied forces along with the members of the Allied powers. Following the signing ceremony Gen. MacArthur addressed all present with these words:

Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won. The skies no longer rain death. The seas bear only commerce…And in reporting this to you, I speak for the thousands of silent lips forever stilled among the jungles and beaches and in the deep waters of the Pacific which mark the way.

Military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations—all in turn have failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. The utter destructiveness of war now blots out this alternative. We have has our last chance. If we will not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. The problem is basically theological and involves a spiritual change and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our matchless advance in science, art. Literature, and all material and cultural developments of the past 2000 years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.

These are powerful, imposing and hopeful words. When we heart them we are reminded of the words of Paul to the Corinthians. Paul tries to impress upon us the urgency of the situation. Time is passing; it is time to choose, now! Choose now for Jesus Christ!

Such a choice is one that the people of Ninevah faced. Either there would be a massive conversion of the people, or there would be dire consequences. They repented upon hearing the words of the prophet Jonah. And we in out time are called to respond to our own, quickly with that sense of urgency and immediacy that we see in the response to the call of Jesus by the apostles. One can only imagine the thoughts and words of Zebedee, "Hey, where are you going? Your mother is not going to like this!"

We live in a time of great perils and possibilities for the good. We live in a world where abortion is accepted by many as just another surgical procedure without moral character or consequence. We are faced with an uncomfortable truth here—a culture that does not protect its unborn and most vulnerable citizens, as well as one that rests its security on the threat of global destruction is one in need of profound repentance. For the consequences are will be dire—the complexity of rationalizations notwithstanding.

Jesus’ call of the apostles in Mark is very striking isn’t it? He calls, they follow, without even batting and eyelash—they simply drop everything and follow him. Wow! What if nations were to do that today? Would we be faced with severe and dire consequences? I think not!

We are entering a new time in history. This time smacks of uncertainty. Conflict is breaking out in so many places, and yet we have the capacity to marshal the positive forces in our world for a new era of unprecedented human growth and achievement. But we cannot tarry, a decision has to be made; conversion has to take place in hearts and in the way we run our world!

Each person is called to examine themselves in light of the following questions. Am I ready to change my heart and this world? Am I ready to respond to the call of Jesus to follow without delay?

The choice is critical, not only for oneself but also for the world. This brings us back to the words of Gen. MacArthur:

The problem is basically theological and involves a spiritual change and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our matchless advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural developments of the past 2000 years. It must be of the spirit if we are to serve the flesh.

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Uploaded January 20, 2000