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In
Search of the Spirit
A
monthly letter from the Glenmary Vocation Office
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January
2004
The
Challenge of Peacemaking
By
Father Steve Pawelk
Most
of the time, my letters to you concern your personal
search of the Spirit. As this New Year begins, I invite
all of us to help the world in its search of the Spirit,
especially the Spirit of peace and harmony among all
people.
The
lack of peace and harmony in the world remains the biggest
ache in my heart. The world is full of violence and
threats of violence: terrorism, war, discrimination,
prejudice, domestic violence, self-destructive behavior…
As Christians, each of us has a personal responsibility
to the One who has saved us—a responsibility to
become people of peace and help usher in peace.
The
image of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem stays with me
always: “As he drew near, he saw the city and wept
over it, saying, ‘If this day you only knew what
makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your
eyes’” (Lk 19:41-42). Also see Luke 13: 34-35.
Now, 2,004 years since Christ’s birth and 1,981
years since his resurrection, the way of peace still
remains hidden from so many eyes.
Terrorism
is a true threat, but its solution lies in understanding
the hearts of those who take part in it. The only way
a terrorist can destroy children is to believe that
his or her enemies have no souls. Thus, in the midst
of all the political solutions aimed at finding a way
to peace and understanding, it is religious leaders
that must take the lead in finding a path to true peace.
Regardless
of one’s personal belief or political persuasion,
all Christians must search for a way to end war forever,
as exemplified on numerous occasions by the words and
actions of John Paul II. My father’s generation
spoke of World War II as the war to end all wars. That
has not come to pass. Some believe that the United Nations
is the path to end all wars. That has not come to pass.
Others believe a world without war will only come after
the great war of Armageddon. Yet, the Prince of Peace
is here now. The solution towards peace lies in the
hearts of every Christian who responds to Jesus’
words: “Blessed are the peacemakers…”(Mt
5:9) and “love your enemies” (Lk 6:27).
Jesus
taught us that all are our brothers and sisters (Mk
3:35). He invited all to become part of the Body of
Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13). He prayed that we might all
be one (Jn 17: 20-22). One of my favorite Scripture
verses comes from 1 John 4:20-21: “If anyone says,
‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is
a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he
has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This
is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God
must also love his brother.”
All
of this said, we cannot control the hearts and minds
of others. But, to some degree, we can control our own
hearts and minds. My invitation is for each of us to
search for the Spirit of Peace in our lives. Perhaps
as we discover that peace in our spirit, we can then
help others search and find peace in theirs.
The
root of one’s vocational call, regardless of what
path we walk as individuals, is to be Christ’s
disciple. As faithful peacemakers, may we follow the
Prince of Peace and the path he lays before us. The
safety of our world depends on us following that path.
Moreover, I firmly believe God is counting on us and
trusting in us to do just that.
Join
me in praying for peace this New Year of 2004. And may
God grant you inner peace as well.
