The Way to Peace and Justice

“ I have endowed him with my Spirit, that he may bring true justice to the nations. He does not shout aloud …in the streets. He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame” Is. 42: 1-3

The Chosen One about whom Prophet Isaiah speaks brings justice to the nations, not by the sound of guns or the firing of missiles. He does not organize protest meetings and raise his voice in the streets nor argue his case in the courts. He does not organize noisy debates on TV Channels nor approach the Security Council for justice. He does not appoint Peace Commissions or Disciplinary Committees. Yet, “He faithfully brings true justice.”

The nations, struggling to stand and survive, he does not crush but lends a supporting hand, and he shields the “wavering flames” from the stormy winds with his protective hands. The origins of noisy rivers are small, silent streams. The huge forests are made up of silent, stationery trees. Mighty nations consist of happy, peaceful villages. It is not those who shout in the street that win. A sword may win a battle, but the ultimate victory belongs to the meek and the gentle. It is the ‘Mahatmas’ with their non-violence who ultimately win. A few inches of mud may be conquered by gun but the hearts of people are conquered by love. “Peace begins with a smile,” says Mother Teresa. 

Jesus’ way to Peace and Justice is not by the sword and Justice Commission. “ Put your sword back”, he told Peter and then he stretched out his hands to his enemies and received on himself the pain of the nails and the fury of the hammer.

We are still to learn the lesson he taught. We continue to seek Peace and Justice in might, power, sound, and fury. We look for success in mighty establishments, big projects, money power, and noisy entertainments. We look for unity and family spirit in social skills and party games. The output depends on the input.  Scheming, politics and lies will ultimately bring about destruction, unhappiness, and ruin.  Instead gentleness, non-violence, and sweetness will bring peace and justice, serenity and joy. We reap what we sow.

The Psalmist says, “ Silver and gold  are but work of human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, they have eyes but cannot see, they have ears but cannot hear.”  What is missing in our huge projects, mighty establishments, noisy shows, all that silver and gold can provide us, is “there is no breath in them.” The Psalmist adds that all those who pursue this path will be like them.  “Their makers will be like them”-  people who don’t hear, see, or speak.  

The way to Peace and Justice is the way of gentle streams, of silent trees, of peaceful villages. It is by supporting the weak and the least we build up institutions and societies. The greatness of a leader is known by the attention he gives to the last and those on the periphery.  A nation is as great as the care it gives to the poor and the marginalized.  It is by offering a gentle hand to the struggling and the wavering that we succeed. The way to success, Peace, and Justice is the way that Christ took - the Way of the Cross.   

-        Fr T.V. George sdb, Readings of 8 January, Baptism of the Lord

                The Way to Peace and Justice

“ I have endowed him with my Spirit, that he may bring true justice to the nations. He does not shout aloud …in the streets. He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame” Is. 42: 1-3

The Chosen One about whom Prophet Isaiah speaks brings justice to the nations, not by the sound of guns or the firing of missiles. He does not organize protest meetings and raise his voice in the streets nor argue his case in the courts. He does not organize noisy debates on TV Channels nor approach the Security Council for justice. He does not appoint Peace Commissions or Disciplinary Committees. Yet, “He faithfully brings true justice.”

The nations, struggling to stand and survive, he does not crush but lends a supporting hand, and he shields the “wavering flames” from the stormy winds with his protective hands. The origins of noisy rivers are small, silent streams. The huge forests are made up of silent, stationery trees. Mighty nations consist of happy, peaceful villages. It is not those who shout in the street that win. A sword may win a battle, but the ultimate victory belongs to the meek and the gentle. It is the ‘Mahatmas’ with their non-violence who ultimately win. A few inches of mud may be conquered by gun but the hearts of people are conquered by love. “Peace begins with a smile,” says Mother Teresa. 

Jesus’ way to Peace and Justice is not by the sword and Justice Commission. “ Put your sword back”, he told Peter and then he stretched out his hands to his enemies and received on himself the pain of the nails and the fury of the hammer.

We are still to learn the lesson he taught. We continue to seek Peace and Justice in might, power, sound, and fury. We look for success in mighty establishments, big projects, money power, and noisy entertainments. We look for unity and family spirit in social skills and party games. The output depends on the input.  Scheming, politics and lies will ultimately bring destruction, unhappiness, and ruin.  Instead gentleness, non-violence, and sweetness will bring peace and justice, serenity and joy. We reap what we sow.

The Psalmist says, “ Silver and gold  are but work of human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, they have eyes but cannot see, they have ears but cannot hear”( Ps 134). What is missing in our huge projects, mighty establishments, noisy shows, and all that silver and gold can provide us, is “there is no breath in them.” The Psalmist adds that all those who pursue this path will be like them.  “Their makers will be like them”-  people who don’t hear, see, or speak.  

The way to Peace and Justice is the way of gentle streams, of silent trees, of peaceful villages. It is by supporting the weak and the least we build up institutions and societies. It is by offering a gentle hand to the struggling and the wavering that we succeed. The way to success, Peace, and Justice is the way that Christ took - the Way of the Cross.   

-        Fr T.V. George sdb, Readings of 8 January, Baptism of the Lord

 

 

Wise men from the East

 The Feast of Epiphany is the feast of the manifestation of Jesus as Saviour of the world. In the three magi, we have the representatives of the Eastern nations who were among the first to pay homage to the new born Child of Bethlehem and receive the Good tidings of salvation. And yet even after two thousand years, Asia, the Eastern continent, is the least Christian continent in the world. Today, on the Feast of Epiphany, as we look at the three kings from the East kneeling before the child and presenting him with gifts, we, people of the East, should seriously ponder over the words Samuel Hugh Moffett in his introduction to the 'History of Christianity in Asia'. He writes,

“All the great religions of the world were born in Asia. Why is it that Christianity, which is larger and more than any one of them, spread more slowly in the land of its birth than on any other continent on Earth?

 Buddha was born in Asia, and most of the world’s Buddhists live in Asia. Confucius was born in Asia and most of the world’s Confucianists live in Asia. Hinduism was born in Asia, and most of the world’s Hindus live in Asia. Mohammad was born in Asia, and most of the world’s Muslims live in Asia. Abraham was born in Asia, and the only Jewish nation in the world is in Asia. Jesus was born in Asia. But statistically, at least, Asia is the least Christian continent in the world.

 Why is it that if judged by the total reported number of members and adherents of the world’s Christian Churches, Latin America is 92.7% Christian, North America is 84.5 percent Christian, Oceania is 82.6 percent Christian, Europe is 76.5 percent Christian, Africa is 45.6 percent Christian, but Asia is at the most 8.5 percent Christian?”

 More wise men must come from the East to recognize in the Child of Bethlehem the Savior of the world. Who will be those wise men from the East?  Asia stands in need of a star to lead its millions to the Child of Bethlehem. When will that star arise? 

-                                                  - Fr T.V.George sdb,   Feast of Epiphany

 

 

“Come and See”

Call of the first disciples Jn.1: 43-51

God has no particular address. Wherever he is welcome, he goes and that place or person becomes his address. Andrew and his companion wanted to ask Jesus who he was but in their confusion, they ended up asking, ‘Where do you stay?’ They were confused because Jesus asked them, “What do you want?” They were not prepared with an answer. Like many young people, they wanted something in life but were not sure how to articulate it. However, Jesus knew what they wanted and he did not disappoint them. They went and stayed an afternoon with him and by the end of the day, they would find the answer. They stayed a whole afternoon with Jesus, not because they got A/C accommodation or  good food and drink but because they were beginning to discover who Jesus is and who they are.

The two disciples accepted Jesus’ invitation, “Come and See” and they came to know Jesus in the course of an afternoon. A look from Jesus was enough for Peter to discover who Jesus was. Jesus saw Philip and he too followed him. Jesus saw Nathaniel and he too got up and followed him. An invitation was enough for John and James to leave their nets and their father and for Mathew to leave his  money table and follow him. They had not the least idea of following Jesus. The invitation came when they least expected  and they got up and followed. No wonder Mark in his Gospel says, “He called those whom he wanted.” Mk 3.13

The vocation to follow Jesus, the knowledge of Jesus is a gift.  It is he who finds us. However much we may search, however fast we may run, however high we may climb, we will not find him until he finds us. The Good Shepherd goes in search of the lost sheep. The woman sweeps and finds the lost coin. The prodigal son thought that he by his effort made his way home, he had not noticed that the father ‘ran’ all the way towards him. For every step he took towards the father, his father had taken a hundred steps towards the son. He was limping the father was running.

 Jesus looked at Peter and he was a new man from then. A look from Jesus changed everything. Jesus made his way to Jericho and to the sycamore tree and looked up and saw Zaccheus on the tree and his life was different since then. Bartimeus thought he had run a long way to reach Jesus, he did not know it was Jesus who came all the way from heaven to the gates of Jericho. A fall from the horse and a voice from heaven changed Saul into Paul. An intense look from Jesus is enough to change our world. In the story of the call of the first disciples the word ‘saw’ is repeated over eight times. It is God who looks, sees, invites, and we just follow. The intensity of the encounter is more important than the length of time we have spent with him.

We so often hear that the Catechumens must have a year or two before they are accepted as members of the Church. Who are we to decide if Christ looks on them and calls them? The purity of their call, the intensity of their desire, and the depth of their encounter with Christ are more important than just attendance and the number of years. Often it is those who have no encounter with Jesus who impose longer durations. Judas had three years with Jesus, and he refused even the last offer of Jesus. Dipping the bread in the dish and giving it to Judas was Jesus’ desperate last invitation for an encounter with him.

It is God who sees and calls. The vocation to be a Christian is a gift. We will discover our vocation better if we can spend a little time on the vocation story of the first disciples and ponder over these words, ‘ he saw’, ‘he looked’ ‘he found’, and ‘they followed’. His invitation is to “Come and See”. If we follow his invitation like Nathaniel we will “see greater things”  and “see heaven opened.” 

                 -        Fr TVGeorge sdb, 5 January 2024,