The Word Of Peace
Homiletic Reflections On Peacemaking

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Pastoral Minister

The famous Doctor of integrative medicine Dr. Andrew Weil speaks of the essential mystery of our being in our breathing. No one knows where it comes from unless as a believer we recognize its divine origin. God’s breath is the breath that is life giving. All that makes for life comes from the very Spirit of breath of God. It is a breath that brings all to unity within a great and unending diversity.

In June of 1963 this nation was confronted with a series of events that would eventually change the nation forever. President Kennedy captured the seriousness of the events quite effectively in his June 11 broadcast of that year. Many of us can remember these words:

This afternoon, following a series of threats and defiant statements, the presence of the Alabama National Guardsmen was required at the University of Alabama to carry out the final and unequivocal order of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Alabama. This order called for the admission of two clearly qualified young Alabama residents who happened to have been born Negro.

The Holy Spirit of God descends upon those gathered in the upper room. The result is an explosion of enthusiasm for proclaiming the saving action of God the Father in the Son, Jesus Christ. But as we see, it is not only a burst of enthusiasm for proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus—it is also one in which brings unity amongst the great diversity. Despite the different languages that the Jewish people in Jerusalem spoke they could all understand the preaching of the apostles in their own language—most amazing!

The Spirit of God is one that brings unity while promoting unlimited diversity. This is so in creation and among the human family. This is especially so if human beings are receptive to the workings of the Spirit. Today marks another celebration of the official birthday of the Church and its mission to the world. It is over 1900 years old. Yet divisions still exist in our Church, among the races, nations, families and ethnic groups. The

words of President Kennedy remind us that throughout Christian history a great deal of lip service has been paid to the Holy Spirit and sometimes little receptivity to its workings. When we examine Jesus’ breathing on those gathered and saying "Peace be with you," we know the Church has been given a mission to bring peace to the world. Yet so often it has failed to do so because another spirit has often held sway over the hearts and minds of believers. This is the spirit of "separation" embodied in racism, bigotry, selfishness, preoccupation with laws and rules, and fear. This spirit divides and destroys. This spirit foments hatred to the point of genocide.

The great challenge for the Church in our day, as it always has been in other days, is to be receptive and obedient to the Holy Spirit that comes to bring unity and peace. We can begin to be receptive to the Holy Spirit in the practice of being receptive to others in their differences, similarities with us and their needs. This is especially so with the Christian churches—and it remains something of a scandal that not more has been done in this area. But there is also a call to unity with the Jewish people, other world religions, races and groups.

Pentecost, in this Jubilee year does and can serve as a call to embrace others in their differences without fear and prejudice. But in doing so, to remember that we a re who we are and we can embrace the gifts we have been given and must embrace those gifts as a Catholic community while embracing the gifts others have to share with us.

And we know that this is not only a religious requirement, it is a requirement of the world we live in. If we look closely to the world scene we will notice that, of the 25 major armed conflicts in the world, 24 four of them are civil ethnic and tribal wars. In our own nation hate crimes continue because of race, gender or sexual orientation.

While we may not agree with everything others believe in we are all called to embrace them in respect and love in their human dignity. God’s breath exists in all people. We see it each day in the living, the inhaling and exhaling of breath.

As we celebrate the mission of the Church we are called to bring Christ’s peace to the world. Such a peace is predicated on the sacred dignity of every person. Such a peace sees a person before fixating on race, tribe, creed, and of dress. Such a peace works to tear down the walls that the spirit of "separation" has erected for thousands of years.

Pres. Kennedy spoke of the promise and rights owed to each American. But in Pentecost, as the Church of Jesus, we declare these are rights of every person animated by the breath of God. Even creation enjoys the right not to be plundered, but to be cultivated and cared for because it shares in God’s breath in a special way. The Holy Spirit that will bring unity to those who are receptive will animate our proclamation of the gospel. It is a Spirit of peace that inspires us and challenges us to work for a more just and peaceful world in which all cultures and people can share their gifts. A peace built on the bedrock of the sacred dignity of every human person—those persons that walk with the breath of God within.

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Created 6/14/2000