Violence
and Peace
Fr.
George Smiga
May
15-16, 2004
John
14:23-29
Over
the last number of months, we have become accustomed to the
sad news of injury and death coming out of Iraq. Both American
and Iraqi lives have been lost in the unfolding of this war.
But over the last week our sadness has been compounded as
we have faced shocking photographs that capture sexual and
psychological abuse exercised by Americans upon their Iraqi
prisoners.
I
trust that these terrible actions are limited to a handful
of individuals. I know that the vast majority of American
servicewomen and men continue to serve their country with
honor. Yet these shocking pictures have undermined our moral
authority in the world, have shaken us personally, and have
invited further reflection upon this war in which we are engaged.
This homily is aimed to be a contribution to that reflection.
I
do not aim to make political judgments or attempt to place
blame. I certainly do not seek to analyze strategic or military
options. All of these matters are well outside of my competence,
and settings other than this Eucharist would better serve
as an forum for such discussions. But what is appropriate
to this setting, to this Eucharist at which we gather this
morning, is for us to ask ourselves, “What spiritual insight,
what moral lesson can we derive from these sad circumstances?”
To
me, one is obvious: violence begets violence. It is easier
to start a war than to end one. It is easier to unleash violence
than it is to control it. Once the bombs begin to fall and
the blood begins to flow, once the shock and awe rolls out,
there is no guarantee that we can make the violence that we
begin do our bidding or limit its impact only to our noblest
intentions. To quote a famous American general, “War is hell”.
Now
the Christian tradition has always recognized this truth.
From the beginning of our history there has been a grave suspicion
over the use of violence. Jesus refused to let his disciples
to take up arms to prevent his arrest. For the first couple
of centuries of the Church's life, serving in the military
and being a Christian were seen as incompatible. Over time,
the tradition came to recognize that there are circumstances
in which violence can be justified. But it has always maintained
that those circumstances are limited, and violence can only
be employed in self-defense. This deep suspicion of violence
is what motivated John Paul II and the American bishops to
join their voices to many other religious leaders over a year
ago as America considered entering this war. They raised grave
concerns, asking whether the threat to American safety was
real and imminent enough to warrant the invasion of Iraq.
They knew that violence begets violence.
The
question for us today is whether we know and appreciate that
truth. There are many voices in our society that would present
violence to us as a solution, and an easy one at that. Look
at the films that entertain us. Routinely a violent enemy
is eliminated by a hero using an even greater amount of violence.
When is the last time that the plot of a major American film
was resolved by negotiation? In business it seems to be more
and more acceptable to use coercion and manipulation to make
a profit. As long as we can produce a successful outcome,
the means are not that important.
Yet
violence is not a solution, certainly not an easy one. Rather,
it is a dangerous option that is just as likely to undermine
us as to save us. Violence begets violence, even if its aim
is to achieve peace.
That
is why Jesus' words in today's gospel should ring in our ears
with authority. For Jesus says that he has a peace to give
us that is very different than the peace that the world would
seek to establish. Those words remind us that our attitudes
should be distinct, different from the cultural values of
our society. We should direct our lives from the gospels,
rather than from the opinion polls that regularly guide our
country's course.
To
follow Jesus is to be a people who carry a deep suspicion
of violence and who refuse to use violence in our personal
lives. We should reject strategies of manipulation and coercion
in our workplace and in our families. We should struggle against
the cynicism that advises that the only language people understand
is force. We should not suppose that simply because we have
power, we have the right to use it in any way we choose.
War
is still hell. The disturbing pictures we have seen this week
are a small reminder of how all sides can be corrupted by
its influence. In a world of increasing violence, you and
I are called to follow the Prince of Peace. Violence begets
violence. What do wisdom and patience and love beget? A peace
that only Jesus can give.
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