Fr. Daniel Berrigan, SJ, reminds us that as peacemakers we are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful. That’s a hard lesson, but a lesson we all need to learn. God calls on each of us to do not just what we can for peace, but all that we can. And we can’t always rely on our actions to have the outcomes we hope for. Thomas Merton said that in a famous letter to Jim Forest during the Vietnam War. Merton told Forest that if he was working to end the war solely in the belief that his actions would have the desired result, he might end up in despair if he wasn’t successful. But Merton went on to say that we must take action because we believe we are doing the right thing regardless of the results.
The Iraq War has just passed its sad fifth anniversary. The Afghanistan War grinds on, as do wars and genocidal mayhem in Africa and other parts of the world. In the face of these nightmares, all of us are committed to working for peace we must do all that we are capable of doing, even if it is a small but significant gesture like Veronica wiping Jesus’ face.
What is the role of the peacemaker? Louisville peacemaker Donald Vish shared these thoughts recently with the board of Interfaith Paths to Peace:
Make Peace!
Play a leading role. But if you can’t play a leading role, then play a supporting role. And if you can’t act, then write the script or type the script or spell-check the script.
Make Peace!
And if you cannot make peace, then march for peace. And if you can’t march, applaud. And if you have no hands to clap or feet to march, then cheer for those who do and encourage those who can.
When it comes to the work of peacemaking, there is no job too small, no progress too little. Everything counts. Everyone is essential.
Do what you can. And when you can’t do, be patient. Those who work for peace learn to master the ebb and flow of hope and despair. Peacemakers know that even as their labors deplete them, they restore others allied with them in the same cause.
Peacemakers learn to be patient when progress is slow, faithful when the cause appears lost and to become a person of peace by first becoming a person at peace.
Prayer: O Holy One, give us the strength and courage to work for peace in whatever way we can, knowing that we cannot control the outcome of our actions, but also understanding that we act for peace in the belief that we are doing what You want us to do.
The Iraq War has just passed its sad fifth anniversary. The Afghanistan War grinds on, as do wars and genocidal mayhem in Africa and other parts of the world. In the face of these nightmares, all of us are committed to working for peace we must do all that we are capable of doing, even if it is a small but significant gesture like Veronica wiping Jesus’ face.
What is the role of the peacemaker? Louisville peacemaker Donald Vish shared these thoughts recently with the board of Interfaith Paths to Peace:
Make Peace!
Play a leading role. But if you can’t play a leading role, then play a supporting role. And if you can’t act, then write the script or type the script or spell-check the script.
Make Peace!
And if you cannot make peace, then march for peace. And if you can’t march, applaud. And if you have no hands to clap or feet to march, then cheer for those who do and encourage those who can.
When it comes to the work of peacemaking, there is no job too small, no progress too little. Everything counts. Everyone is essential.
Do what you can. And when you can’t do, be patient. Those who work for peace learn to master the ebb and flow of hope and despair. Peacemakers know that even as their labors deplete them, they restore others allied with them in the same cause.
Peacemakers learn to be patient when progress is slow, faithful when the cause appears lost and to become a person of peace by first becoming a person at peace.
Prayer: O Holy One, give us the strength and courage to work for peace in whatever way we can, knowing that we cannot control the outcome of our actions, but also understanding that we act for peace in the belief that we are doing what You want us to do.
posted by Interfaith Paths to Peace at 9:15 AM
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