May 25, 2025.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14, 27-28a)
Christ is the Prince of Peace. Despite this, his public life was always wrapped up in conflict, the last of which lead to his death. This apparent contradiction could appear strange and without logic, but if we look at the contents of the Christian message we discover that it is completely normal. In affect, the Lord speaks of peace, but not of just any peace. In the same way He speaks not of love, but of “his” love, he also speaks of “his” peace. This peace is that which is built on the foundation of justice and liberty not on that of repression and fear. It is a question of an active peace, very different from that passive resignation of those who refuse to fight and defend those who suffer. The Christian doesn’t look for nor love conflict, nor does he flee from them at whatever price; at the price of betraying his conscience or of looking the other way while the poor are oppressed.
It is important to take this into account especially in our era, times of terror when there is fear to board a train, a plane or even the metro. For us peace is of great value, but it is not the supreme value, not at the price of having to give up our ideas, our moral principle or our faith. What happens is that we are not going to become assassins or suicide bombers; however we are ready to give our lives -not to take them- to defend that which we believe in. We search for peace without fear of non-violent conflict, in the way of Christ, for the love of God and the poor. And if it turns to war, we will faithfully abide by what the Holy Father says which we must always know how to listen to.
Intention: Reject violence and not just internationally, but that which comes from ourselves. Defend peacefully our rights and our moral religious convictions.