Homily for Mass for Peace in the Middle East
Homily for Mass for Peace in the Middle East
Immaculate Conception Chapel, University of Dayton
July 28, 2006
Given by Father Chris Wittmann, S.M.
Readings: Zechariah 9:9-10, Psalm 72:1bc-2, 3-4, 7-8, 12-13, 18, James 4:1-10, John 15:9-12
I would like to start with some selections from statements made by the Vatican and the US bishops in the past week, especially in response to the bombings between Israel and Hezbollah in parts of Lebanon.
On July 16th, Pope Benedict said:
“At the origin of these cruel oppositions there are, sadly, objective situations of violation of law and justice. But neither terrorist acts nor reprisals, especially when they entail tragic consequences for the civilian population, can be justified. By such paths, as bitter experience shows, positive results cannot be achieved.”
On July 20th, Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, Chair of the Committee on International Policy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote a letter to members of the U.S. Congress. Here are a few points from his letter which summarize recent statements by Pope Benedict XVI, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the leaders of Christian communities in the Holy Land:
---------
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops condemns the terror and provocative acts of Hamas and Hezbollah that precipitated the crises, including cross-border attacks, abductions and the continuing indefensible rocket and missile attacks on innocent Israeli citizens, both Jews and Arabs. These radical armed groups (and their supporters in Syria and Iran) bear the responsibility for initiating the current cycle of violence.
Israel clearly has a right to defend itself, but as Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Secretary of State, said Israel’s right to self-defense “does not exempt it from respecting the norms of international law, especially as regards the protection of civilian populations.” Israel’s response has been in some instances militarily disproportionate and indiscriminate. In light of traditional Catholic teaching, massive counterattacks on civilian areas and infrastructure, blockades and other acts of war should not be supported. Punishment of entire peoples for the indefensible acts of militant armed factions contradicts traditional just war norms. A humanitarian crisis is growing in Gaza and Lebanon.
Only genuine dialogue and negotiations can bring a lasting and just peace to the region. As Bishop Wenski stated in his appeal to political leaders, it is “clear that violence, from whatever side, for whatever purpose, cannot bring a lasting or just peace in the Land we call Holy.” The recurrent cycle of terrorist attacks, deliberate provocations and disproportionate military responses undermined the brave and wise people on all sides who seek a just, two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The United States must exercise greater leadership to end the current cycle of violence, condemn all attacks on civilians, secure an effective and immediate ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors, oppose disproportionate and indiscriminate actions, and move toward negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to advance a two state solution, and ensure the independence of Lebanon.
-------
Also on July 20th, the Holy See Press Office released a statement indicating Pope Benedict’s growing concerns about the destinies of the people involved in this conflict, and inviting all believers of the world to make July 23rd a day of prayer and penance for peace. The statement include the following:
-------
“In particular, the Supreme Pontiff hopes that prayers will be raised to the Lord for an immediate cease-fire between the two sides, for humanitarian corridors to be opened in order to bring help to the suffering peoples, and for reasonable and responsible negotiations to begin to put an end to objective situations of injustice that exist in that region…”
“In reality, the Lebanese have the right to see the integrity and sovereignty of their country respected, the Israelis the right to live in peace in their State, and the Palestinians have the right to have their own free and sovereign homeland.
------
If these statements from the Pope and from the U.S. bishops sound dramatically different from the positions that the Bush Administration and other government leaders have been taking; if they sound different from the slant that we hear and see in most media reports (refusal to consider an immediate cease-fire; lots of tough talk; refusal to condemn Israel’s disproportionate reprisals) – if these sound different, then perhaps it is because there is a dramatic difference between the gospel of Jesus Christ and business as usual in our world.
The political world trades in the currency of fear and power, covetousness and pride. In contrast to this, Christ comes, meek and riding on an ass, to banish the weapons of war – the chariot, the horse, the warrior’s bow – and to proclaim peace to all the nations. Christ calls us to faith in God’s perfect love, which casts out all fear. This love of God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. It invites us to repent for our greed and power-mongering, to cleanse our hands, to purify our hearts, to lament, to weep, to mourn, to humble ourselves before the Lord, who alone will exalt us.
A just and lasting peace cannot and will not be attained by the destruction or obliteration of our enemies; by devastating the infrastructure of a sovereign nation; by terrorist bombings, violence, and abductions; by the denial of the rights of our enemies to exist and to live in their own sovereign homeland; by violent attempts to prevent the establishment or continuation of such a homeland for our enemy. This is clearly true for those who follow Jesus, who told us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. But I believe it can be argued that this is really true for all spiritual descendants of Abraham: Jews, Muslims and Christians – though you will find many from each of these religions who will not see it this way.
All of this points to a need for great repentance and conversion of heart – for the conversion of the hearts of individuals, peoples, and nations. God’s love is profoundly challenging to our “business-as-usual” human power-broking.
The gospel today reminds us that Jesus says: “Remain in my love” and “keep my commandments.” “This is my commandment,” Jesus says, “love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus loves us by going to the cross for those who persecuted him. May we grow in his love, remain in his love, have our love deepened in his love, so that we may love others as he loves us.
May we die and rise with Christ so that we can say with St. Paul, “the life I live is no longer my own, but Christ who lives and loves within me.” Let us pray for this conversion to Christ that will bring peace to our lives. And let us pray for peace among all peoples.
(Note: for recent statements by Pope Benedict and the US Bishops on violence in the Middle East, see http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/mideastind.html#general.)
