The Word was the light.
The light has come into the world.
Light amid darkness.
Life among death.
The flame has flickered out
As wars have raged and
Genocide has run rampant.
Murder and violence—
The “legal” murder called war.
Abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment—
All life issues. Continue reading
A far away stable cave holds
What the universe cannot contain—
Jesus, the Messiah,
The Prince of Peace
Sent forth by the God of Peace.
Peace to all.
Let there be peace on earth! Continue reading
As Christians, we bear a moral responsibility for what goes on in our country in our names. Pope John XXIII reminded us that we must work for peace and justice with everything at our disposal. This has never been truer that it is today.
In an age of terrorism, real and manufactured fear keeps us cowering while our elected and military leaders move full speed ahead to win the so-called war on terrorism. Terrorism is a threat; however, it is a threat which will never be resolved at the tip of the sword. Until we come to our senses and deal with the root causes of terrorism (poverty, exploitation, wealth amassed by the few, the arms race and arms trade, and Pax Americana), we will not deal effectively with terrorism. Continue reading
Let’s put ourselves in the scene in today’s Gospel. John has been out in the desert proclaiming the coming of the God of Peace. He met with stiff opposition from the Roman dominators and Jewish leaders. Now he is in prison. For all he knows he may soon be put to death for his resistance to empire. He is talking to his disciples. One asks, “Is there any hope for us?†“Another says, “What about your cousin, Jesus?†Continue reading
Skellig Michael
Advent is such a time of hope. Repeatedly the God of Peace promises to be with us, to help us, to sustain us. For some reason, the Advent visions of hope which keep coming to us in the daily readings seem to be more real this year. In our tumultuous world as people involved in the work of peace and justice, we certainly need grounding. We need the assurance of the God of Peace that she will be with us. I will help you. I will quench the thirst of those who are parched. I am with you always. Come, you are burdened ands rest in me. Continue reading
When the two blind men approached Jesus, the nonviolent Jesus, who shows us the face of the god of Peace, asked, “Do you believe that I can do this?â€
Do we believe that Jesus can do this? Do we believe that the nonviolent Jesus can come through on his promise of peace and justice? Do we believe that he will make all things new? Do we believe that he will wipe away every tear? Continue reading
Mountain
The Ignatian method of meditation, as I understand it, asks us to place ourselves in the scriptural scene. Let us relax, sit gently, breathe in and out and visualize ourselves on a mountain top—the place where we meet the God of Peace. Continue reading
Advent presents us with an opportunity to stand aside and see things anew. Like Isaiah and the other prophets, we can dream. We can envision a better world. We can hope for things to come. It is a time of prophecy, a time of hope, a time for dreaming wonderful possibilities. It is a time to look beyond what is and to hope for the God of Peace to make all things new. In the end, God will wipe away every tear. Continue reading
John Dear has written a set of daily reflection for Pax Christi, The Advent of the God of Peace. If you do not have this guide to the daily scripture readings for Advent, I recommend that you get it.
I never quite thought of it this way before but Advent is the coming of the God of Peace. We proclaim that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Paul tells us that Christ is our peace. Christ is our peace—the only way to the God of Peace. Continue reading
