Peace

Matthew 24:6 – “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed. These things must take place, but the end is not yet.”

Wars and rumors of wars. When you stop to think about it, this isn’t much of a sign. There are always wars and rumors of wars somewhere. War is a way of life for many people, even today. We seem to need an enemy to define ourselves against, or even to make ourselves feel superior. Peace is an anomaly. We as a society laugh at people wanting peace.

But, even if this need for an enemy is written in our DNA (probably not), it’s possible to override such impulses. In fact, Jesus commands us as his followers to do so. “Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.” Every fiber of our bodies and minds strains against such a notion. We want vengeance, which leads to war. We are swimming in a culture of war. Those who work for peace are swimming against the tide. As such, it may seem like a futile endeavor. Keep in mind, though, that it was just as futile when Jesus said it.

How does one begin to override such a strong impulse? A good first step is to become at peace with ourselves. All of ourselves; our failures, our successes, our worst moments, our best moments, our joys and our sorrows. Only once we’ve made peace with all of ourselves, can we extend that peace – that grace – to others. It’s obvious that many people are not at peace with themselves. We live in a society in which every fault of every celebrity and political candidate is dragged up into the light of public opinion, as if none of us have faults that we do not wish the world to see. The most egregious offenders also enjoy the privilege of non-accountability for their acts. The internet has been abused to facilitate this mindset.

So, how does one become at peace with oneself? There are many paths to this goal. I would suggest we not try it alone, though. Find a trusted guide to help and maybe even pick up the pieces if we break down. It’s a painful process and having a companion makes it less lonely. Jesus reminds us that this narrow way is painful; very few people take it. it is the way of “costly grace” as Bonhoeffer would say.

I have just rewatched Sinead O’Connor singing Bob Marley’s song “War” on Saturday Night Live. The song makes the same point. As long as even one person is being abused, there is war. So, as a sign of the close of the age, “wars and rumors of wars” is pretty useless. However, it serves as a good reminder to keep our eyes open. It has worked almost too well; many Christians feel war is a necessity to bring about “the end times” or something we can do nothing about.

Do not be deceived; war is not a necessity, but an abomination. War necessitates the harming, maiming and killing of those who, like you and me, bear the image of God. Instead of worrying about wars and rumors of wars or signs, let’s work for peace.