PEACE-LENT 2023 - Peace is Forgiveness

Friday, First week in Lent - March 3, 2023

The WORD in LENT: Ezekiel 18: 21-28; Matthew 5: 20-26

Peace is reconciliation, we said right at the beginning of our lenten reflections! Today there is a prerequisite of that: peace is forgiveness. How can we think of reconciliation without forgiveness? The Word today presents to us this fact, from two complementary perspectives - one, that there can be peace only where there is forgiveness; and second, that the model of forgiveness is none other than God, our merciful Father and Mother.

Jesus in the Gospel explicates the fact that it is not enough to refrain from killing, instead a disciple of Christ has to refrain from anything that hurts - even a simple word that would hurt the other. But what if someone hurts me? Jesus says, forgive! This is an easy way to peace: do not hurt, and forgive those who hurt you! But one may protest: it appears to be such a weak character to refrain from hurting but readily forgiving those who hurt me! Before considering that protest, objectively think to yourself - will it not lead to peace when I don't hurt and forgive those who hurt? Now coming to the objection, Jesus says, "forgive because you are forgiven."  

That is infact the second perspective and we see that amply represented in the first reading by Ezekiel. As a prefigurement of the theology of mercy that would be later preached by Jesus, Ezekiel speaks of a God who wishes that we live rather than die, that we change and become good rather than be condemned, that we have always a chance to restart or begin again rather than being damned to destruction by destiny or fate! God who forgives us endlessly, in a way demands that we grow more and more forgiving towards others. That is a sure way to peace, because peace is forgiveness. 

PEACE-LENT 2023 - Peace is Responsibility

Thursday, First week in Lent - March 2, 2023

The WORD in LENT: Esther 4: 17; Matthew 7: 7-12

Ask, and you shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened to you; seek, and you shall find it - this teaching is nothing new to us! But it is very often interpretted only as a teaching about the trust that one should have in prayer - that we will received, that we will have it opened and that we will find what we seek. There is another subtle angle to this teaching that is very often bypassed - our responsibility!

Yes, the Lord knows what we need, what we seek and what we expect. And yes, certainly the Lord who is our loving Father and Mother shall deign to give us what we need. But these certainties do not in anyway take away the responsibility that each of us have in this regard - to ask, knock and seek actively, regardless of the fact of God's mercy, kindness and generosity. 

This is the perspective that comes out strongly when  today's first reading and the Gospel are reflected  upon together. Esther is a wonderful example in this regard, who makes us understand that peace is responsibility. It is not failing in one's responsibility. Peace does not happen, it has to be created, constructed, built up and nurtured. Yes, it is the doing of the Lord, but we have our role to play, failing which we shall not have it. 

Jesus explains that in his beautiful words. He begins with saying, ask, seek and knock, but ends with that injunction: do unto others, treat others, how you would like them do unto you! You cannot leave everything to the question of chance, not even to the magnanimity of the other. It has to begin from you, the Lord says. Wellbeing has to begin from you; shalom, peace has to begin from you, because, peace is basically responsibility!

PEACE-LENT 2023 - Peace is Humilty

Wednesday, First week in Lent - March 1, 2023

The WORD in LENT: Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32

There can be no peace, where there is no humility. Humility enables one to see the truth wherever it could be - from within, in the other and in the reality. It goes in perfect continuity with the two themes that we have reflected upon in the past two days - integrity and genuinity. Humility is the capacity to observe the truth and acknowledge it. 

This has to be first done within - that is, admitting the truth about oneself. Not making up shows and putting up appearances, when a person is willing to manifest truly what he or she is from within, that amounts to humility and that creates a peace that nothing else can give! This is what happened to Jonah - he expressed what he was and what he felt and had to face hardships due to that. But he stuck on to the truth and that is why the Lord stuck on to him!

The second level is in relation to the other - that is, admitting the truth about the other. Not having hidden agenda and disguised hatred for the other, when one is able to look at the goodness and value of the other and admit it without pretension, it is humility at its best and that can offer not only to me and the other, but to the whole context a peace that is in everyway enviable! That was missing totally in those who demanded signs from Jesus - because they were full of deception and malice. That unnerved Jesus. 

Thirdly, it is about notice the truth as it comes across - that is, wherever truth exists, to admit it and celebrate it. Sometimes it may be against me, it may dislodge my comfort zones, and make me feel unsettled. But that cannot make me wantonly deny the truth that I am able to see so obviously! This is what does away with peace in the world today - there are far more numerous people who wish to deny and disown truth for reasons known only to them, than persons who are willing to stand by it. If so, how can peace have its chance, while peace is truly, humility!

PEACE-LENT 2023 - Peace is Genuinity

Tuesday, First week in Lent - February 28, 2023

The WORD in LENT: Isaiah 55: 10-11; Matthew 6: 7-15

Yesterday we reflected on how peace is integrity; today we have the Word which establishes a related fact: peace is genuinity! It is a fruit of genuineness of a person, of a community, and of a society at large. This is established by a classic two step argument - the Word of God is unfailingly genuine; we are the children of that God in and through the Word; therefore our words too have to be, by all means, genuine!

We cannot say something, and mean something other that what we said. When we do that, there is confusion, deception, reaction and therefore, violence - that is against peace! Peace is non violence. Though it is not merely non-violence, we cannot think of peace without non-violence. One of the fundamental aspects not to be violated is the factor of truth. This is where Mahatma Gandhi found the intimate connection between his Ahimsa and Satyagraha!

The first reading today speaks to us of the Word of God which is what it is and does exactly what it has to. The Word does not compromise; the Word is active and alive, genuine and straightforward. We see this explained also elsewhere (Hebrews 12) within the Word of God. This becomes a standard and a standing example for us to make our words as genuine as possible. 

Jesus teaches us how to pray - it is a way of telling us: mean what you say, even in your prayer or especially in your prayer! Your prayer (or your words of faith) should reflect the fact of your life. The words that you speak should become your daily life. This genuineness will certainly  bring peace within you and all around you!

PEACE-LENT 2023 - Peace is integrity

Monday, First week in Lent - February 27, 2023

The WORD in LENT: Leviticus 19: 1-2, 11-18; Matthew 25: 31-46

Two terms that dominate the Word today are - judgement and neighbour! In Christ-ian terminology, my judgement depends on how I deal with my neighbour. Whether I look at them in terms of assets and liabilities, in view of my profit or loss, from the point of view of gain or burden! When I do that, all my resultant actions and way of life will be so selfish, ungodly and absolutely unChristian! 

Peace is a question of integrity - where there is integrity there is true peace; where integrity lacks peace fails, or at the most it exists but is fake! It remains precarious. The more selfish I am the more fragile my internal peace gets. The more selfish a society grows the more challenged its peace is. The more selfish humanity becomes the more frail its peace becomes. The solution is integrity.

Integrity - personal and collective - ensures the absence of gap between what a person or a society is and what they wish to appear as. When a person tries to appear as he or she is within, the person may draw criticism but will certainly work on oneself and become a holistic person. When a society remains what it really is, without making appearances or fabrications about its identity, but ready to be challenged constantly and grow out of these experiences, the society becomes foundational to a holistic humanity. 

A person who is good from within, inspite of all the weaknesses and imperfections that may show up now and then, is an integral person and there is peace within him or her. A society that is just and virtuous in its very fabric, inspite of all the untoward and occasional failures, is a true seed of the Reign when it holds on to its integrity. Yes, integrity alone can pave way to peace, be it personally or socially, because peace is integrity. 

PEACE IS A CHOICE

PEACE-LENT 2023: First Sunday of Lent 

February 26, 2023: Genesis 2:7-9: 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Why did God make the tree, if God wanted them never to eat of it?

Why should that fruit be there first of all, if God knew it would not help them, instead it would ruin them? 

Would not life have been more peaceful without this unfortunate event of the fall - and who created the opportunity for it, if not God?

These top the list of FAQs that arise from today's Word. And this lent we have chosen to look at this reality from the point of view of peace! Reflecting in the light of the questions above and similar others, what stands out in the Word today is the fact that peace is fundamentally a choice! Just yesterday lived through the day that marked one year of war in Ukraine - a folly of a war in the 21st century! Of course, it is not that this is the only war that is on... there are so many war situations and war-like situations all over the world, threatening the local and universal peace! Every individual societies, families and persons are not spared of this lack of peace. Against this background, the Word establishes today three facts:

Fact 1: God chose to gift us with the capacity to choose; yes, Choice is a gift! If we get to see, it is this capacity to choose that is the fundamental element of human dignity. It is freedom and autonomy that define a human person. When they are missing there is a breach of human rights, loss of human dignity and a crisis of very humanity. This is what is happening in many a place today where this freedom and autonomy is not given, or controlled or hunted out. Think about all the discussion on freedom of expression, threat to the whistle blowers, and the stifling of truth that is happening all around the world! 

God made us human persons; that involves primarily our capacity to choose! When every thing is prefixed and there is nothing to be done about it, where does the personal capacity of individuals come in? Would it not be merely luck and destiny that is at play? Though at times it may look like it is so, the fact is that we are given with the great gift of choosing, to make of ourselves what we are! When we become aware of it and responsible about it, we are laying the foundation for peace - be it personal or universal! 

Fact 2: We choose God because God chose us! God has made a choice to love us and has given us a sign of that love in Christ, in Christ who chose God absolutely! In choosing God, Christ chose to obey. In choosing to obey, Christ chose peace, oneness, serenity... he chose SHALOM! For God so loved the world that God gave the only Son that the world may have life: that is the source of our peace, the unfailing source of our eternal peace! 

God created us in a paradise and invites us to that paradise; what we make of our life in between these two is our choice! Can we make this a peaceful journey towards a peaceful eternity? That depends on whether we wish to choose God or not; that rests on whether we are ready to choose peace or not! Choosing peace is choosing God, and that is what Jesus has exemplified in his life! 

Fact 3: Choosing peace is choosing God! God invites us to take up our call to choose peace, but that choice is a challenge. It is a challenge because it involves choosing God - choosing to abide by God's Word and not by the popular fads of the world; choosing to remain calm at difficulties and not trying and testing God and God's capacity; choosing to be humble and loving instruments in the hands of God and not trying to play God to the world! This is what we see happening in the event of temptation of Jesus, presented in the Gospel today. 

Jesus chose God, and thus he chose peace! The devil had to leave him and the Angels were around to comfort him. That is peace: keeping the devil far away and allowing the angels of the Lord to teach our way. The world does just the opposite today - it keeps anything that is angelic far away, claiming it is too childish and naive; but dares to play with the  wiles of the devil so oblivious that it will eventually lead to their damnation, a total loss of peace! The challenge of peace therefore is to make a choice to be authentic come what may, to forego of our ego and put the Other and the others much before me and mine.

Peace is a choice. Realising the gift of choice that we have received from God and choosing God above all, we choose peace! May this season of Lent, the Peace-Lent that we are journeying through, grant us and the whole world, true and lasting peace!

PEACE-LENT 2023 - Peace is Justice

Saturday after Ash Wednesday -  February 25, 2023

The WORD in LENT: Isaiah 58: 9-14; Luke 5: 27-32

Peace can never be inaction; it is never silence. Peace cannot be conformism; it is never playing by the book. Peace is Justice - we are called to be breach-menders, restorer of ruined houses, rebuilders of ruins - that requires that we act, that we change first from within and then all around us. Justice alone can guarantee true peace and justice has to begin from our interior change. 

The kind of change that we are called to effect is a change that is all-encompassing. It would not consist in accusing myself as a sinner and escaping my responsibility for the other, nor can it tolerate calling the other a sinner or judging the other out of bounds of salvation. Who are we to, when God wants to embrace everyone - however unworthy we are!

Peace consists in that act of justice  - removing the yoke from the shoulders of the oppressed, doing away with our clenched fist in authentic forgiveness and generous reaching out, not giving into wicked thoughts or resulting words! Peace consists of a relationship of compassion and justice, making the other matter invariable of our judgements regarding what they are or who they are! 

We cannot tink of peace, where there is no justice because peace is justice!

PEACE-LENT 2023: Peace is Compassion!

Friday after Ash Wednesday - February 24, 2023

The WORD in LENT: Isaiah 58: 1-9; Matthew 9: 14-15

Satyagraha! Peace marches! Marathon for peace! Fasting for peace! How do these really function? Have you ever given a thought to it? What does it matter if you and I fast or go for a march or take up some campaign for world peace? How does it work, that one in one end of the world is fasting or going on a march for peace in another end of the world? Does it work at all?

Fasting during the lent - how does it affect the Community of faith? Is it only the money that is saved that matters, that we can give it to someone in need? What does it really do to me and to the rest around me, when I fast? And why should we fast at all? These are some questions that arise, everytime we celebrate this all important season of lent. 

Fasting is a sign of compassion. It is a sign of utmost participation in the sufferings of others - be those sufferings caused by external reasons or internal. Fasting for the sake of itself, may help oneself in self-control and self-discipline, but that is not the principal motive of fasting! This is what Jesus brings out in his critical presentation of fasting, not to say about the prophetic voice of Isaiah.

Fasting will have done its real contribution to humanity - to persons and the community at large - only when it inspires compassion in the heart of persons. This compassion is feeling for the needy other, the suffering other, the weeping other, the languishing other... it is this compassion that will render our fast a real Christian act. This compassion alone can lead to peace - in our hearts, in our society, in the whole of humanity. 

There can be no peace until I begin to think of and to worry about the other and their needs: because peace is fundamentally, compassion!

PEACE-LENT 2023: Peace is a Choice!

Thursday after Ash Wednesday - February 23, 2023

The WORD in LENT: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20; Luke 9: 22-25

Very often we complain and lament on things that go wrong in our lives, blaming it on someone or something! Without uncompassionately brushing aside the pain that is involved in the experience of trouble or loss or difficulty, if we seek to find the real cause, the root cause, the ultimate cause... we shall find there, a choice! 

When situations of conflicts arise, when persons around create a crisis or events of life rake up problems... what matters is not actually what happens, but what we choose! We make choices that, may not be immediately, but eventually take us to where we find ourselves at the end. If everything is a choice, just so or more so, peace is a choice!

If I wish peace in my mind, in my heart and in my life - I have to choose it. If I choose ego, if I choose success, if I choose prosperity, if I choose profit or my own material growth, I choose them! Yes, I choose them, and not peace! Choosing peace sometimes, or most of the times in fact, costs! I have to be ready to pay the cost. That is what Jesus means by "taking up my cross" - it is choosing to pay the cost, for the divine peace that we can find only in the Lord and in the salvation that the Lord has planned for us. 

We may think we are choosing life, or  that we are choosing prosperity... but in actuality we might be choosing death and disaster! We need to pay attention. What matters is not immediate gratification but the ultimate good. At times it might require sacrifices and mortifications. If we need peace, we need to choose it, because peace is a choice!

PEACE-LENT 2023: Peace is Reconciliation

Ash Wednesday - February 22, 2023

The WORD in LENT: Joel 2:12-18; 2Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Be reconciled to God - that is the crux of the message given to us at lent. We begin today this year's lenten journey... this year we shall celebrate the Peace-Lent. 

Peace is a yearning that everyone has today world over. In fact the whole creation is thirsting for this peace! The ecological crisis, the economic crises, the political unrests, the human right violations... every one of this experience is a reminder of the lack of peace, the lack of shalom! The message of reconciliation that is central to the season of lent, is a key towards peace.

The varied terms in which the Word expresses the message of the whole of lent: come back, turn to the Lord, order a fast, assemble and gather, be reconciled, pray, fast... all these terms refer to the peace journey that we are invited to make. The peace journey is all about reconciliation, returning to the fullness that we are gifted with! 

Peace is reconciliation, a getting back to the holistic relationship with myself, with others, with the Ultimate Other, my God who loves me without measure.