"war never again, never again war!"

A few hours ago (Saturday evening Rome time) almost 100.000 people gathered with Pope Francis in St. Peter's square to pray for peace, especially with the prospect of intervention causing escalating violence in Syria.

You can see a brief video report of the gathering at this link:

http://www.romereports.com/palio/pope-francis-rebuild-peace-and-harmony-with-encounter-not-conflict-english-10955.html#.UivpJGQpbfg

Also the pope's homily is reprinted below:

"And God saw that it was good" (Gen 1:12, 18, 21, 25). The biblical account of the beginning of the history of the world and of humanity speaks to us of a God who looks at creation, in a sense contemplating it, and declares: "It is good". This, dear brothers and sisters, allows us to enter into God’s heart and, precisely from within him, to receive his message.

We can ask ourselves: what does this message mean? What does it say to me, to you, to all of us?

1. It says to us simply that this, our world, in the heart and mind of God, is the "house of harmony and peace", and that it is the space in which everyone is able to find their proper place and feel "at home", because it is "good". All of creation forms a harmonious and good unity, but above all humanity, made in the image and likeness of God, is one family, in which relationships are marked by a true fraternity not only in words: the other person is a brother or sister to love, and our relationship with God, who is love, fidelity and goodness, mirrors every human relationship and brings harmony to the whole of creation. 

God’s world is a world where everyone feels responsible for the other, for the good of the other. This evening, in reflection, fasting and prayer, each of us deep down should ask ourselves: Is this really the world that I desire? Is this really the world that we all carry in our hearts? Is the world that we want really a world of harmony and peace, in ourselves, in our relations with others, in families, in cities, in and between nations? And does not true freedom mean choosing ways in this world that lead to the good of all and are guided by love?

2. But then we wonder: Is this the world in which we are living? Creation retains its beauty which fills us with awe and it remains a good work. But there is also "violence, division, disagreement, war". This occurs when man, the summit of creation, stops contemplating beauty and goodness, and withdraws into his own selfishness.

When man thinks only of himself, of his own interests and places himself in the centre, when he permits himself to be captivated by the idols of dominion and power, when he puts himself in God’s place, then all relationships are broken and everything is ruined; then the door opens to violence, indifference, and conflict. This is precisely what the passage in the Book of Genesis seeks to teach us in the story of the Fall: man enters into conflict with himself, he realizes that he is naked and he hides himself because he is afraid (cf. Gen 3: 10), he is afraid of God’s glance; he accuses the woman, she who is flesh of his flesh (cf. v. 12); he breaks harmony with creation, he begins to raise his hand against his brother to kill him. Can we say that from harmony he passes to "disharmony"? No, there is no such thing as "disharmony"; there is either harmony or we fall into chaos, where there is violence, argument, conflict, fear ...

It is exactly in this chaos that God asks man’s conscience: "Where is Abel your brother?" and Cain responds: "I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?" (Gen 4:9). We too are asked this question, it would be good for us to ask ourselves as well: Am I really my brother’s keeper? Yes, you are your brother’s keeper! To be human means to care for one another! But when harmony is broken, a metamorphosis occurs: the brother who is to be cared for and loved becomes an adversary to fight, to kill. 

What violence occurs at that moment, how many conflicts, how many wars have marked our history! We need only look at the suffering of so many brothers and sisters. This is not a question of coincidence, but the truth: we bring about the rebirth of Cain in every act of violence and in every war. All of us! And even today we continue this history of conflict between brothers, even today we raise our hands against our brother. Even today, we let ourselves be guided by idols, by selfishness, by our own interests, and this attitude persists. 

We have perfected our weapons, our conscience has fallen asleep, and we have sharpened our ideas to justify ourselves. As if it were normal, we continue to sow destruction, pain, death! Violence and war lead only to death, they speak of death! Violence and war are the language of death!

After the chaos of the flood, when it stopped raining, a rainbow appeared and the dove returned with an olive branch. Today, I think also of that olive tree which representatives of various religions planted in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires in 2000, asking that there be no more chaos, asking that there be no more war, asking for peace.

3. And at this point I ask myself: Is it possible to walk the path of peace? Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace? Invoking the help of God, under the maternal gaze of the Salus Populi Romani, Queen of Peace, I say: Yes, it is possible for everyone! From every corner of the world tonight, I would like to hear us cry out: Yes, it is possible for everyone! Or even better, I would like for each one of us, from the least to the greatest, including those called to govern nations, to respond: Yes, we want it! My Christian faith urges me to look to the Cross. How I wish that all men and women of good will would look to the Cross if only for a moment! There, we can see God’s reply: violence is not answered with violence, death is not answered with the language of death. In the silence of the Cross, the uproar of weapons ceases and the language of reconciliation, forgiveness, dialogue, and peace is spoken. This evening, I ask the Lord that we Christians, and our brothers and sisters of other religions, and every man and woman of good will, cry out forcefully: violence and war are never the way to peace! 

Let everyone be moved to look into the depths of his or her conscience and listen to that word which says: Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer your deadly reasoning, and open yourself to dialogue and reconciliation. Look upon your brother’s sorrow – I think of the children: look upon these… look at the sorrow of your brother, stay your hand and do not add to it, rebuild the harmony that has been shattered; and all this achieved not by conflict but by encounter! May the noise of weapons cease! War always marks the failure of peace, it is always a defeat for humanity. Let the words of Pope Paul VI resound again: "No more one against the other, no more, never! ... war never again, never again war!" (Address to the United Nations, 1965). 

"Peace expresses itself only in peace, a peace which is not separate from the demands of justice but which is fostered by personal sacrifice, clemency, mercy and love" (World Day of Peace Message, 1975). Brothers and Sisters, forgiveness, dialogue, reconciliation – these are the words of peace, in beloved Syria, in the Middle East, in all the world! Let us pray this evening for reconciliation and peace, let us work for reconciliation and peace, and let us all become, in every place, men and women of reconciliation and peace! So may it be.

the successful disciple

three years on

During this past week we marked the third anniversary of the 4 September 2010 earthquake. Since that date we have experienced well over 13.000 quakes. It has been a long three years for all of us. So many of us, with family and friends, continue to struggle with the loss of homes, businesses and livelihoods. Too many of Cantabrians remain without secure homes awaiting insurance settlements while considering limited options.

New Zealand had always been the place where land ownership was viewed as the most secure investment. Our families worked hard for their quarter-acre sections near shops and schools. In rural areas we have worked more intimately with the land cultivating, sowing and harvesting. 

But the farming people of our country know too that simply owning land is no guarantee of prosperity. While a good year can bring a rich harvest, Very often rain, storms and droughts can just as often threaten to bankrupt the farmer.

The earthquakes have reminded city landowners that the simple ownership of land cannot guarantee security. Think of the effects of liquefaction rendering entire suburbs now permanently uninhabitable.

The initial response to the earthquakes, and particularly to the deadly February 22 quake, was remarkable in our city. WIthin hours communities had rallied to provide food and shelter to those in need. Money was freely given. Neighbours opened their homes, and their bathrooms. to those in need. The real response of Cantabrians was not so much from the traditional helping institutions (who certainly did their share), but from those who crossed the fences between properties to help neighbours who until that moment may have been strangers. “He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata!” He tangata! (What is the most important thing in the world?  It is people! It is people! It is people!)

it is not just us...

In the midst of personal suffering, healthy people also become more aware of the sufferings of others. How often the family gathered at the hospital bedside of the sick child, develop significant friendship with other parents in the ward. Suffering also shifts our gaze beyond our neighbourhood and city to those who are the victims of natural disasters and war in other parts of the world.

In these days our thoughts and prayers are especially with the people of Syria, where violence and bloodshed has been their pattern of life and death for more than two years. The United Nations reports that over 100.000 civilians have lost their lives in that time.

In recent days this tragedy has threatened to become a global war. We are slow learners when it comes to war and peace. We know from the history of last 100 years that true peace can never be achieved be achieved by violence, or even by the threat of violence. Yes Syria has chemical weapons, but only because Israel has nuclear arms. And Israel has stockpiled nuclear weapons because the United States...

...and so the pattern of violence continues. 

wisdom from the scriptures

It is in the context of these local and world events that we turn to today’s scripture readings. There are many verses in these readings worthy of their own homily. In the gospel we hear Jesus reminding us that:

“anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

and at the end of the same readings:

“So, in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.”

We will pray the psalm together

"O Lord, you have been our refuge, from one generation to the next".

The first reading directs us to wisdom:

Who indeed can know the intentions of God! Who can divine the will of the Lord? The reasonings of mortals are unsure and our intentions unstable.

Perhaps it is not difficult to relate to each of these verses. How often our intentions and motivations feel even more unstable than the ground we walk on. How often our intentions and motivations feel even more unstable than the earthquaked-ground we walk and build on. Too often we find that our behavour and our responses are little more than the impulsive and compulsive reactions to the unhealthy behaviour of others. Maybe we don’t even take a moment to discern the will of the Lord? Our words and actions are driven by so many attachments, and we defend our personal possessions with military-like methods.

there is another way

Thanks be to God, Christians have been given another way of living through life’s instability and conflict. The one who turns to Christ, with total abandonment, will find refuge. We see this in our ancestors in faith who “from one generation to the next” knew that the most important thing was to live in relationship with Jesus. It is only in this divine embrace that we avoid being trampled under by daily demands. Even when under attack from our enemies, the Lord is our only refuge.

And this confidence brings us to the heart of our faith. The true follower of Christ is the one who in every moment takes up the cross and follows. The life of the successful disciple is not measured by an absence of suffering and conflict. These realities are as inevitable for us as they were real for Jesus.

The disciple of Jesus finds joy not in simple avoidance of pain and tension, but in remaining in intimate relationship with Jesus in the midst of every challenge and demand of daily life.

newsletter

The weekly newsletter for the Catholic parish of the Good Shepherd, Hurunui District, is now uploaded to the parish website www.catholichurunui.co.nz.

meet the Christchurch seminarians

Let's offer a prayer today, and every day, for the seminarians of the Christchurch diocese.

You can meet them at this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAu2pR8UCB4&feature=share

Let's also remember those of our diocese who are in formation for priesthood in religious communities around the world.

three years later

On this day, three years ago, Cantabrians were shaken awake at 4.35am by a 7.1 earthquake. We have had well over 13.000 quakes since then, including the deadly February 22 2011 quake which took the lives of 185 of our Christchurch family and friends.

Here in Christchurch, it is difficult to remember pre-earthquakes days. 

For three years, the instability of the ground we have built our houses, businesses and our lives on has been unreliable. The three years have been interminable for many as the uncertainties of delays, insurance, repair and rebuilding continue to deprive good people of sleep and security.

But when I think of earthquakes I also remember the extraordinary generosity that revealed the true heart of our city. Food was freely and generously given. Money was shared. Homes were opened to strangers and the tragedy and trauma we were all living with gave us the opportunity to live more fully as the kind of community we know we all need.

So as we remember those who still suffer today, let's offer a prayer for them. And let's pray another prayer too, that we will never lose the heart-felt generosity and love that we saw in the worst of those earthquake moments. Such love, is the only stable foundation for any city.

killing, with the tongue...

Pope Francis certainly doesn't mince his words when preaching the gospel. Yesterday, after his vacation, he returned to his early morning celebration of the Mass at Casa Santa Marta where he lives.  In his homily he drew a parallel between the one who gossips and the murderer.

You can read a summary of his text at this link:

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-never-kill-your-neighbor-with-words

and watch a romereports summary at this link

http://www.romereports.com/palio/pope-resumes-morning-mass-at-santa-marta-dont-kill-others-with-your-tongue-english-10908.html#.UiYCSGQpbfg

working for survival, or for fun

"swimming is a strange sport 

because sometimes you do it for fun, 

and sometimes you do it to not die.

Work is somewhat similar"

At the beginning of a new work week, and a new month, I was encouraged by this reflection on "work".

Take a look at the zenit.org  website to read.

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/work-of-human-hands-a-labor-day-reflection