www.frmikescully.com

	THE PATH TO PEACE

The Gospel

LUKE 1:67-79

Then Zechariah filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people. He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: salvation for our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

The Media

"Casino Royale"

beginning session

Can one fight terrorism without violence? The producers of the James Bond movies would answer that you cannot. Of course, one of the things that "sells" in the movie market is violence, but in "real life," it is a question that should be thought about seriously. How does one fight terrorism and remain a Christian? One does not know from the movie "Casino Royale" whether James Bond is a Christian. All one knows is that he fights terrorism in a violent way. From pursuing a would-be suicide bomber to saving the world's biggest new jetliner to conquering a financier of international terrorism, Bond uses violent tactics, and of course, wins. The question remains, however, whether a follower of Jesus Christ should use the violent tactics portrayed on the movie and television screens. What would happen if we accepted Jesus' difficult doctrine of "no retaliation" and at the same time are being overrun by terrorists?

Zechariah was speaking in prophecy as he spoke about his son, John, later to be called "the Baptist." He prophesied that John would go before the Lord to prepare his ways, and eventually guide everyone’s feet into the path of peace. Zechariah did not know exactly how it would be accomplished, but he knew that his son and the Lord who would follow him, would direct the world toward such a peace.

Unfortunately, the perfect peace that both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ wanted, has never found fulfillment. We study our history, and we necessarily must study war and the violence connected with it. It is a clear fact that generally speaking, we are not prone to follow the path of peace. The belief that such a path to peace is worth fighting for is the conviction of James Bond and his fictional English intelligence organization. That path, however, is paved with violence.

Christians rightly accept the "just war" theory, namely that we have a right to defend ourselves, and protect our loved ones from others who deliberately are out to hurt us, but the question of violence still remains. Does Jesus' desire to pursue the path to peace not mean that we should be "less violent" even as we defend ourselves? Does it not mean that searching for ways to peace rather than an "arms build-up" ought to be the first priority of every country. Indeed, in our individual lives, does it not mean that we work at never using violent means to obtain what is rightfully ours?

If we are to follow the path to peace that Jesus desired, we will ignore the violence depicted in movies and television, and recognize that we can live in a less violent world if we want, even as we legitimately defend ourselves.

THOUGHT

In your life right now, what does the “path of peace” consist of?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, through your Son and people like John the Baptist, you have given us direction to walk a path of peace. Help us want to choose to follow that path as best we can. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike