If you want peace, work for justice

Easter Monday, April 1, 2024

If you want peace, work for justice

Well, we’ve sung Hosanna holding palms, washed one another’s feet, celebrated Eucharist, knelt and prayed at the foot of the Cross, lit the holy fire, shared the light of the Paschal Candle with one another, initiated the Elect in Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist and anointed those seeking the gifts of the Spirit of God. What a week. Alleluia! 

And yet, we stand on the precipice of one of the most violent times in human history. “What does that have to do with me?” we wonder as we pray for the victims of oligarchs, whose self-interest results in chaos and destruction and wreaks havoc on a world in search of peace? History teaches that the outcome of war produces nothing but more war and the death of innocents, death of peace, death of collaboration between nations that we leave to the generations that follow. 

Pope Francis’ Easter message yesterday included these words: “War is always an absurdity, war is always a defeat!” He added, “Peace is never made with arms, but with outstretched hands and open hearts.” How many private wars between people exist even as we stand together and pray for the victims of war? How many internal wars exists within hearts that have grown hard, weary, sorrowful, even with the promise of new life that we continue to celebrate within these 50 days of Easter and really, all year long? 

I wrote a piece years ago that I never shared and by some coincidence found it in my archives today. I’d like to share it with you on this first day of the Octave of Easter.   

On Oct. 4, 1965, St. Paul XI became the first pope to address the United Nations. What was the essence of his talk? No more war, war never again. (You can read his entire address at link: https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/paul-vi-50-years-ago-no-more-war-war-never-again) 

And yet, here we are again. Ukraine and Russia. Israel and Palestine. The Gaza Strip. No mercy, no compassion, no benevolence for any innocent victims, remorse of any kind but only the use of armament that destroy, steal joy and change the landscape of any community with one fell swoop of destruction. Wars exist. This demonic evil destroys lives, countries, nations.

War in this 21st century includes cyberattacks, assaults on the electric grid, water and oil supply, health care, education, politics, religion and the banking system. War in this day and age may include armaments but there is more than one way to kill, maim and do malevolent devastation that will once again change the course of history. We live on the brink yet again of horrific destruction to millions of people worldwide. 

Perhaps if we stop the petty wars among one another, true global peace will stand a chance.   

St. John XIII who penned Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) stated that for world peace to exist, people must "make it imperative that at long last a world-wide community of nations be established." In the decades that followed, alliances between countries and nations were created for that very purpose. Too many innocent lives have been sacrificed in the name of justice, which were the opposite of just. His words resound loudly and clearly what we hear, read and witness daily. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_j-xxiii_enc_11041963_pacem.html-

Peace is more than the absence of war

Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope), the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, is one of the four principle constitutions resulting from the Second Vatican Council in 1965 promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 7 December, 1965. Gaudium et Spes stands as a pillar of many topics but for the purpose of this blog, several of them develop the ideals of culture, economics, politics and peace and war.

More than several quotes ring true almost 60 years later: 

"Peace is more than the absence of war: it cannot be reduced to the maintenance of a balance of power between opposing forces nor does it act out of despotic dominion, but it is appropriately called 'the effect of righteousness' (Isaiah 32:17."(GS78) 

"Peace cannot be achieved on earth unless people's welfare is safeguarded and people freely and in a spirit of mutual trust share with one another the riches of their mind and their talents. A firm determination to respect the dignity of the other individuals and people along with the practice of friendliness are absolutely necessary for the achievement of peace. Accordingly, peace is also the fruit of love, for love goes beyond what justice can achieve." (GS 78)

"War, granted, has not ceased to be part of the human scene. As long as the danger of war persists, and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peaceful effort have failed. State leaders and all who share the burdens of public administration have the duty to defend the interest of their people and to conduct such grave matters, with a deep sense of responsibility. However, it is one thing to wage a war of self-defense; it is quite a different matter to see to conquer another nation. The possession of war potential does not justify the use of force for political or military objectives. Nor does the fact that war has unfortunately broken out mean that all is fair between the warring parties. (GS79) 

My favorite?

“If you want peace, work for justice.” St. Paul VI, Celebration of the Day of Peace, 1972.

To read Gaudium et Spes in its entirety, follow the link: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html