Peace after Bali?

Since the Bali terrorist attacks of 12 October, 2002
we realise only too well that none of us is safe from attack.
Wherever we go events catch up with us, as do our responsibilities.
We can no longer say, "it does not concern me" or "it happened far away there is nothing I can do".
We share the shock, pain and grief of all those who have lost young sons and daughters or friends in this callous violence.

All of us in our ordinary lives can work for peace.
Christ said, Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you (Jn 14,27).
It is a peace expressed in everyday life.
It is given and lived in a personal encounter with Him, in the home at Nazareth or in the upper room.
The Peacemakers (Mt 5,9), who are blessed, make small everyday actions prophetic,
because the one who is trusted in little things can be trusted in great (Lk 16,10).
War has come into our homes and so it is urgent that the work of peacemaking should begin at home, too.
Many who accept the necessity of violence can see no other way to resolve human conflict.
Violence and war purify and unite us while they punish the wrong doer.
A leader or nation is blamed and it becomes imperative that they be attacked and destroyed.
This way of seeing the world is opposed to the way of Jesus who in accepting death on the Cross reconciled all people.

Christ is our peace and our hope.
It is imperative that we believe that the Good News is not just addressed to individuals
but is the way of peace for all nations. To follow the non-violent Jesus means to live his mercy,
forgiveness and reconciliation. This does not mean that the need for justice, accountability and self defence in the world is rejected.

Pray daily for the peace of the Kingdom of God whose coming Jesus proclaimed rather than the victory of any particular nation, including our own.
The Kingdom of God is for all people.
It is grounded God’s grace and flowers in a world of peace, justice, freedom and mutual respect.
When we pray thy Kingdom come in the Our Father each day we can consciously pray for peace in our world.
When nations are in conflict it is very easy to see the citizens of the other country as being evil or less than human.
This is particularly so when they profess a religion different from our own.
But let us be clear: we can never kill in the name of God.
It is important that we break down the walls that exist between different religions.
We need to contact all our neighbours so that mutual respect and understanding can develop.
Through such hospitality the seeds of peace are sown by ordinary Australians.
Pope John Paul, who has twice invited religious leaders to pray for peace at Assisi, shows the way for us. We have a mission of reconciliation and communion that includes all people.
We give a special place to our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters as with them we look to Abraham as our father in faith.
We need to work with all people of good will to abolish those conditions of cruel injustice and desperate poverty that are among the causes of war and violence.

Fr Greg Burke ocd

This reflection was first written for Peoplespeak for the World Day for Peace 1 January, 2003. Peoplespeak will be published by CarmelPrint to help parish communities around Australia celebrate their Sunday liturgies.