3rd Sunday of Easter: April 13/14, 2024

It’s a word Jesus used 3 times in the Gospel last Sunday – and once in the Gospel today.
    It’s a word we use 6 times at every Mass between praying the Our Father and receiving Communion:  the sign of our unity.
    It’s a word that’s easy to say - but hard to achieve – it’s the word for the 2nd gift of Easter that Christ gives us – and the word is     PEACE:
    As in Jesus stood in their midst and said to them:  Peace be with you.
    As in “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: peace I leave you, my peace I give you.” 


    Peace, Saint John Paul II once said:  “is not possible without justice.  And justice is not possible without forgiveness.  And forgiveness is not possible without mercy.”


    Here to talk more about peace - is our guest speaker from last week:  Douglas. . .








    Hey guys, it’s me again, Douglas.  And today I want to talk about one of Jesus’ favorite words:  PEACE.
    Like when he says:  blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Or when he just simply said:  peace be with you.  As he greeted his disciples after his resurrection.
    Now I don’t know why - but it seems as a kid - being called a kid is one of the worst insults.
    Like if someone says “move it kid” that’s like the worst.
    But I know as adults, you have your own ways of insulting people and putting them in their place. . .
    One time, I was on the school playground, and there was this big kid - he wasn’t that much older than me - but he was huge!
    And he just shoved me - and knocked me down.  That wasn’t very fair:  because I did not deserve to be shoved to the ground.  
    And he said:  move it kid, you’re in my way.
    And I just thought, o man, I’m on the ground and he shoved me and insulted me and I was just so mad — and all the other kids saw this and came swarming around us like kids will do – and they started chanting:  fight, fight, fight.
    Because they wanted me to get up – and give that big kid what he deserved by shoving me – they wanted me to teach him a lesson by beating him up –
    Fight. Fight. Fight.
    Now even though I was a lot smaller - I was quicker - and I had a right to give that big kid what he deserved – so I think I could have taken him.
    I think if we did fight - I might have won.  And that’s what everyone wanted  – a fight.
    But is that what Jesus would want - a fight - I don’t think so. . .
    Blessed are the peacemakers, he said.  Peace be with you, he said.
    Jesus wants us to look at conflict - and to ask ourselves how we handle it. . .
    Not just like a physical fight – but even just arguments or disagreements – how to we handle them – how do we resolve them??  
    Everybody loves a winner – so if I would have gotten in a fight with that kid and won – I would have been the hero of the playground.
    But do I - or you - want to be the hero of the playground – or the hero is God’s eyes?
    Yes, if we would have fought – the others would be cheering me on because I had beaten this kid and taught him a lesson.
    And there is something deep down inside of us, call it our human nature – that when we are challenged by someone – we want to beat them – everybody loves a winner!
    So if someone calls you a name – your human nature wants you to call them a worse name.
    If someone does something hurtful to you – deep down you want to do something back to make them cry.
    And our words and actions would impress a lot of people - because everyone would see that it was fair:  an eye for an eye and a hurt for a hurt.
    But those words and actions would not impress God. . .
    Yes, it may get us an “atta boy” or an “atta girl” - maybe even a pat on the back.  Others would say : good job - you really showed them - aren’t you a tough one. . .
    But would you rather have the admiration of other people – or the admiration of God?  
    I hope you said God – because that’s the only good answer.  Because Jesus came to set us free from acting just on our human nature –
Jesus became human – so we can share in his divinity — that’s our calling through our Baptism:  to become more and more like Christ!!
    Just remember in any kind of fight – you have a choice:
    You can escalate the fight – making it worse and worse - or bigger and bigger –
    OR you can choose to diffuse the situation and just walk away.
    Now there are of course times when you have to stand your ground – standing up for yourself or for someone else.
    But if you can avoid a fight or an argument – or negotiate a settlement — that’s the truly impressive thing.
    Anybody can get into a fight – but it takes real courage and internal strength to avoid one.
    So the challenge is to be peacemakers. Instead of trying to win fights we’re called to try to end fights.
    You know when that kid pushed me - we could have fought - and I might have been able to beat him.
    But instead, what I chose to do – was just walk away:  to be a peacemaker.


    Do you think I got a cheer for doing that?  NOPE. But in the kingdom of God - it’s not an eye for any eye and a tooth for tooth – which would be fair - an act of justice  – but we are called to be unfair – not giving something someone deserves – but showing them mercy – which is why we can’t have peace without practicing 
 mercy. . .
Again, as St. John Paul II said:  there is no peace without justice.  No justice without forgiveness.  No forgiveness without mercy. . .
We will get a great model of justice, forgiveness, and mercy in next week’s Gospel – so be sure to come back.
    And remember:  blessed are the peacemakers - for they will be called children of God!

    
    



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