February 24 // Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Responsorial Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

What experience have you seen of someone negotiating a conflict or someone easing hostilities? While driving out of the school parking lot after substitute teaching in northeast Rochester, I saw a fight among about a dozen big children. I asked God’s help as I pulled over and leapt out of the car and into the melee. Foolish? Probably. Do any good? Yes. Immediately, the youth broke away from beating one another; they listened to reason. I have no recollection of what I said as it was a long time ago. I do recall the expressions on the faces of formerly hostile warriors. I saw wonder, sheepish guilt, resolve to be peaceful, grief and thoughtfulness. Did it last? I never saw another battle and I still live in the neighborhood.

Another cessation of conflict was made official when Estonia restored its independence on August 20, 1991. The civil disobedience that gave the parliament the courage to stand up to what was then the Soviet Union included 400,000 Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians singing peace songs and banned hymns for 4 years, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! In August 1989, two million people in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia joined hands in a 595 Km human chain to protest the Soviet occupation of their countries.

Who says passive resistance does not work? Not me! Not Jesus who says “love your enemies.” And David in the reading in 1 Samuel today acts nonviolently. We have seen that violence breeds violence and violence escalates violence. Keep telling the stories like those above to illustrate how enormously effective non-violence can be. All we need is the will and we pray for that daily in the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Deni Mack, D.Min Pastoral Associate

[Image by MK817 on Pixabay]