The Quest for Peace Part I

Yesterday was the third anniversary of the beginning on Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.  What we want, what we need is peace.

Whether everyone knows it or not, we are all on a quest for peace.  War, violence, and terrorism is not what we are created for.  They will not bring us joy.

Peace is something everyone has a right to.  For Catholics, the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (Social Compendium)states, “Working for peace can never be separated from announcing the gospel, which is in fact the “good news of peace” Acts 10:36, cf. Ephesians 6:15) addressed to all men and women” (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.  Libreria Editrice Vaticana/United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:  Washington, DC 2005. Also available online at   https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html, 493, emphasis in original).

What is Peace?

As we continue our quest for peace, we need to understand what peace is.  The secular world may see peace as simply the absence of war, terrorism, and violence.  While the absence of these is a good thing, it does not guarantee peace.  Here one may think of the two years without attacks by Hamas prior to their attack on October 7, 2023 that began the present phase of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.  Some thought there was peace, not knowing what Hamas was planning.

True peace does bring with it tranquility.  It involves people getting along for then there is no need for fighting. 

This peace requires justice.  As the Social Compendium states, “Peace is the fruit of justice, (cf. Isaiah 32:17) …Peace is threatened when man is not given all that is due him as a human person, when he dignity is not respected and when civil life is not directed to the common good” (494, emphasis in original).  When one does not have what they need, what they are due, they may feel they must fight for what they need.  Provide everyone what they need and are due and we take a giant step towards eliminating “the need” for war.  When we let go of our greed, whether it be individually or as a nation, we turn our focus to the common good (paragraphs 164ff of the Social Compendium discuss what the common good is).    

The Social Compendium continues, “Peace is also the fruit of love” (494, emphasis in original).  When we love our neighbor, it points us towards peace.  Why?  Because when we love our neighbor, we treat them with dignity.  When we love our neighbor, we do not just supply them with the basic necessities of life, we truly care about them.  When we love our neighbor, we do not want to fight with them.  We do not want to hurt them.  War (hopefully) ceases to be an option.

As Christian disciples, the peace we seek is more than earthly peace.  “In biblical revelation, peace is more than the simple absence of war; it represents the fulness of life (cf. Malachi 2:5).”  (Social Compendium, 489, emphasis in original).

As Christians, we seek the peace that Jesus offers us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”  Jesus explicitly offers this peace at least four times after his Resurrection with the words, “Peace be with you” (Cf. Luke 24:36, and three times in John 20:19-26).

Jesus tells us that the peace He offers is different than what the world offers.  The peace that Jesus offers us is a deep abiding peace in our hearts and our souls.  When Jesus gives this peace to his disciples in the upper room, they are afraid.  They are afraid that those who persecuted him and had him crucified will do the same thing to them.  The persecution of Jesus’ disciples does not end when He says, “peace be with you.”  The persecution continues for the first three centuries of Christianity.  What does change is the disciples begin to feel peace deep within themselves.  This peace transcends earthly fear.  It lifts us beyond that fear.  At Pentecost, the disciples receive the Holy Spirit.  One fruit of the Holy Spirit is peace (see Galatians 5:22).

Yet our earthly fears continue.  We need to be reminded of and renewed in the peace that Jesus offers.  This is why we remember Jesus’ offer of peace at every Mass when the priest repeats Jesus’ words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”  At that point in Mass, we have just celebrated the sacrifice of Jesus.  Sin has been defeated.  We need not fear our sins as before because Jesus is victorious over sin.  This is the peace that Jesus offers.

The Social Compendium describes peace as “one of the greatest gifts that God offers…Peace is the effect of the blessing that God bestows upon his people: “The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:26). This peace produces fruitfulness (Isaiah 48:19), well-being (cf. Isaiah 48:18), prosperity (cf. Isaiah 54:13), absence of fear (cf. Leviticus 26:6) and profound joy (cf. Proverbs 12:20)”  (489).

This leads me to think of the priest’s words after the Lord’s Prayer at Mass, “Deliver us Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

In describing what peace is, I will conclude with “Peace is a value and a universal duty founded on a rational and order of society that has its roots in God himself)” (Social Compendium, 494, emphasis in original).  As a value, it can be a measure of how we are doing.

What Peace is Not?

Sometimes a war ends, or does not begin, because of the fear the less powerful party has of their more powerful opponent.  Again, the absence of war is a good thing, but I do not see this as true peace.  True peace cannot be caused by fear.  They are in opposition.

Peace is not something that is determined by what the stronger party wants.  For example, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has openly said he wants to destroy Hamas.  We pray for an end to all terrorist groups but true peace will not come simply if Hamas is destroyed.  The hatred and violence involved in this will lead to Hamas being replaced by another group. 

As we read in the Social Compendium, “Peace and violence cannot dwell together, and where there is violence, God cannot be present (cf. 1 Chronicles 22:8-9).” (488).  Hatred cannot end war or bring peace.  Only love can do this.

If we want to build peace, we must help everyone have the basic necessities of life.  We need to find ways to help them have peace.  We must build solid relationships with God and with each other for “Peace is founded on the primary relationship that exists between every human being and God himself” (Social Compendium, 488).  We need to seek reconciliation with God and with each other (Social Compendium, 492). 

If we want to build peace, we need to embrace the words in the Lord’s Prayer, thy will be done for “Peace is built up day after day in the pursuit of an order willed by God and can flourish only when all recognize that everyone is responsible for promoting it” (Social Compendium, 495).

If we want peace, we must realize that “The damage caused by an armed conflict is not only material but also moral” (Social Compendium, 497).  To have peace, we need to live moral lives.

What Blocks Peace?

Our desire for more than what we are due (greed) can stand in the way of peace.  It can keep others from having what they need, leading them to fight for basic necessities. 

Of course, violence stands in the way of peace.  “Violence destroys what it claims to defend: the dignity, the life, the freedom of human beings” (Social Compendium, 496).

True peace can be blocked by efforts in the arms race to seek peace only as “balance of power between enemies.”  “Rather it is founded on a correct understanding of the human person and requires the establishment of an order based on justice and charity.” (Social Compendium, 494, emphasis in original).

What I have offered today is the first half of chapter eleven in the Social Compendium regarding peace.  In the near future I will post an article on the arms race, terrorism, and our duty as individuals and as a nation to work for peace as discussed in the second half of chapter eleven in the Social Compendium.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff