“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
In a season when we sing “peace on earth, good will toward men,” and in a year when such peace on earth seems more distant than ever, how does Christ call us to respond to violence?
You’d be forgiven if this year’s news kind of makes you want to crawl into bed and never come out. War between Russia and Ukraine drags on. In the Middle East, brutal and horrific terrorist attacks provoke a huge military response, causing terrible suffering and thousands more casualties. As intended, the bloodshed stokes more anger, fear, and hatred across the world—trying to goad everyday people to arm up and pick a side. Of course, the perception of existential threat has always been a potent political tool across history and throughout the world. At home, a national survey in October by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institute found 23% of Americans now agree with the statement that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.” It’s easy to start worrying: Who might that violence be aimed at? Me, or someone like me? Like some malevolent force out of a Madeleine L’Engle novel, the lure to arm oneself with lethal force whispers to everyone seductively: Maybe they’re coming for you. You need to protect yourself…
But Christ’s life and teachings call disciples to something completely different. Faced with nothing less than ethnic cleansing by the forces of Herod, baby Jesus’ family didn’t arm themselves, they fled to Egypt (without a visa, even). Despite growing up in a brutal military occupation, Jesus didn’t form a militia—he called disciples. Jesus never told his followers to hurt the Pharisees or Sadducees (even when they kept trying to get mobs to stone him). Even in the face of unjust arrest and politically motivated crucifixion, Jesus stopped disciples from reacting violently, saying “all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” Matthew 26:52. The remaining disciples knew Christ’s rejection of violence stretched beyond the Garden of Gethsemane. Despite having plenty of reasons to be troubled and afraid, none of them ever took up arms. Most died for Christ at the hands of those who were perfectly willing to kill them. Like the Prayer of St. Francis, even in the face of violence, they were called—and therefore we are called—to be instruments of Christ’s peace.
by David J. Grummon
Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is offence, let me bring pardon. Where there is discord, let me bring union. Where there is error, let me bring truth. Where there is doubt, let me bring faith. Where there is despair, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.