Pray for Peace…What is Peace?

We need to pray for peace but what is peace? 

We pray for peace because there are wars going on in the world.   

Russia and Ukraine have been at war for four years.  Israel and Hamas have been at war for two and a half years.  There are also military attacks between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.  Last year the United States of America and Israel launched a short-term military offensive against Iran.  I could go on with other conflicts between nations… 

On February 28^th of this year, the United States and Israel began a new war against Iran.  Israel specifically attacked and killed the Iranian Supreme Leader.  At first we were told the attacks would last around a week.  Then it was to last for four to five weeks.  It continues to change. 
 
In retaliation, Iran has attacked U.S. and Israeli facilities as well as several locations in other middle eastern countries. 

I think no one would argue this is not peace. 

At times I have written about these wars in the context of Just War Theory (see the Just War Theory – Real Life Application category on my blog).  I have not written specifics to date on the present war with Iran in regards to Just War Theory as it remains unclear what specifically led to the war now, what the objectives are, and how much force will be used. 

It is not Just War Theory or its application that I want to reflect on today.  The question for today is what peace is.  If we are going to pray for peace, we need to know what peace is. 

When there are wars between secular nations, they speak in terms of secular peace.  This secular peace is seen by many as the absence of war, violence, and terrorism.  Without a doubt, we desire from the depths of our hearts and souls the end to all wars, violence, and terrorism.  Yet real and lasting peace is something more. 

Fear (from a greater military force) can bring what seems to be an end to war.  One tends not to attack with war or terrorism if one is afraid of the response.  So, a temporary peace may exist.  It is temporary because the lesser force can be working in secret to build up its forces in secret.  These seems to have been the case in the calm before Hamas struck on October 7, 2023. 

Peace that is based on fear can bring an arms race.  We spend our efforts to build bigger armies with more destructive force.  Does this sound like peace?  Both sides may claim to be building up their forces in the name of peace.  Is there really peace when someone’s figure sits on the trigger to launch intercontinental missiles?  There may be a lack of war but is there peace in the hearts of the people? 

The peace I seek is the peace of Christ.  Jesus never carried a weapon.  Jesus did talk about “peace” and the “sword” in Matthew 10:34.  However, his sword is the Word of God (see Hebrews 4:12).  When the opposition comes to arrest Jesus, some of his disciples want to take up the sword against them.  Jesus responds by instructing them, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52, cf. John 18:11) 

The peace of Christ that I seek is the peace that Jesus offers to his disciples gathered in the locked room after his Resurrection when He greeted them, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19-23) and then again a week later when Thomas was with them (John 20:24-29).  They were afraid and so Jesus offers peace.  This is the peace given in the Sign of Peace at Mass.   

The Sign of Peace begins with the priest saying 

“Lord Jesus Christ, 
who said to your Apostles: 
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you;  
look not on our sins, 
but on the faith of your Church, 
and graciously grant her peace and unity 
in accordance with your will. 
Who live and reign for ever and ever.” 

We pray for peace.  The peace of Christ comes when we seek unity.  Jesus prays for this year unity in John 17.  While it might stop wars and terrorism in the short-term, military conquest does not bring peace in our hearts.  It does not bring unity.  In fact, instead of leading us to peace and unity, it may actually increase the hatred in the hearts of people on both sides.  It can bring the division that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 10:34-36. 

As long as each nation or individual seeks their own will, putting themselves first before others, peace is a difficult thing to achieve.  We lock out peace from our own hearts because we think we must first have our own way.  When one nation puts itself first over others, it can add to hatred and division.  It keeps us from having peace in our hearts.  It keeps us from the peace of Christ.  Putting one first, nationally or individually, can be a refusal to love our neighbor, the second greatest commandment. 

There is another way in which we, without meaning to, may keep peace from reigning in our hearts.  Sometimes we want to fix everything.  We think we can only have peace when everything is exactly as it should be.  We should do everything we can to make the world be as God wills but that doesn’t mean it is our job to fix everything.  Every person and every nation must do our part but only our part.  Jesus is the Savior of the world, not any single one of us.  We must work together. 

I know this is something I struggle with.  I know the world is not as God desires.  I allow myself to get caught up in fixing earthly problems when what I need to do is show people the Peace of Christ. 

Peace comes when we let love, specifically the love of God, reign in our hearts.  That’s when we find the peace that is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).  

Does this sound difficult?  It is.  It gets harder.  If we really seek the Peace of Christ, it requires it us to forgive, even if the person repeats the sin (see today’s gospel reading).  How many times must we forgive?  As many times as we need to ask God to forgive us.  Otherwise, we are not being honest when we say in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” 

Forgiving the other person is good for us for if we do not forgive them, we hold anger in our hearts.  When we hold anger in our hearts, it takes up space meant for God’s love.  Thus, when we hold onto our anger, it keeps us from the Peace of Christ.  Is being right really worth giving up having peace in our hearts?   

I will take peace in my heart over anger any day.  And yet, at times, I get angry (Jesus speaks of anger in Matthew 5:21-26).  Peace is not easy…Lord, I really need your help.  Lord, to have your peace in my heart, please help me surrender myself to your will.  Help me let go of hatred.  Help me to let go of seeking my own will.  Help me, help our nation, help all people and all nations surrender ourselves to your will. 

I am not naive.  I know this will not come easy.  I would like to think war is never necessary but against an unjust aggressor, it may seem necessary.  When it seems necessary, it must be evaluated and conducted in accordance with Just War Theory.  We must be careful.  Jesus speaks of retaliation in Matthew 5:38-42.  He speaks of loving our enemies in Matthew 5:43-48. 

Even when “the other side” has conducted evil, that alone does not justify war.  We must also remember to never allow ourselves to become the aggressor for if we allow ourselves to become the aggressor, even if we win the military, we may forfeit the battle for the salvation of our souls.  The devil knows that.  The devil loves division.  The devil wants to spread hatred in our hearts to keep us from the love of God. 

We are created to know God.  Our souls thirst for God (see yesterday’s psalm).  As St. Augustine prayed to God, “our hearts are restless until we rest in you.”  I pray we all make our thirst for God our greatest desire. 

Remember, as I wrote last week in “We Need to Pray for Peace!”, “You Can’t Fight Hate with Hate.”  Let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts. 

Peace, 

Fr. Jeff