A CHALLENGING PEACE
The Gospel LUKE 21:12-19
Jesus said, “Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”    
The Media         "Star Wars: Episode I--The Phantom Menace" final session
As usual with the “Star Wars” series, the movie “Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace” closes with the thought of courage in the face of incredible evil. The two Jedi knights, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, together with their new apprentice Anakin Skywalker discover the unfortunate fact that the road to peace is never easy. Sometimes people are hurt and even die in order to accomplish it.  
Jesus preached a road to peace, but he knew that such a peace would come with a price. The peace would not come easily, and his disciples would feel the difficulty. One of those disciples was Paul the Apostle. After his conversion to Jesus Christ, Paul undertook his missionary journeys with Christian peace in mind, and he too discovered that the road to that peace often involved real suffering. On his so-called first missionary journey, he was stoned to the point of death because he was speaking blasphemy in the Jewish mind, and yet, immediately after it, he went right back into the controversy—to the same town to continue what he was doing (Acts 14:19-21).

While the evil and treachery of “Star Wars” is fantasy, what we suffer in the world is not. As Jesus and Paul discovered, suffering was real—people really did not like them; they hurt them; they tried to get others to shun them.

Generally speaking, the Christian is not called to a courage that the Jedi knights showed nor are we called to suffer in the same way that Jesus and Paul suffered. But if we are followers of Jesus, we will discover that there will be real trials and real problems. Jesus still preaches a peace to the world that is not easy to hear because it is a challenging peace. It is one that involves work and change. In many instances, it takes extraordinary courage to agree with his message. His promise still guides us: “Your perseverance will secure your lives."             
THOUGHT
Define “Christian peace” as you understand it. 
 
PRAYER
Good and gracious God, your Son still preaches a gospel of peace, but there are many who cannot accept it, and therefore your followers must face the possibility of persecution. Help us be courageous in our acceptance of what your Son teaches. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike
©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America