A Prayer for Our Case

When our hearts are reluctant we often have to compel ourselves to pray for our enemies, to pour out prayer for those who are against us. Would that our hearts were filled with love! How frequently we offer a prayer for our enemies, but do it because we are commanded to, not out of love for them. We ask the gift of life for them even while we are afraid that our prayer may be heard. The judge of our soul considers our hearts rather than our words. Those who do not pray for their enemies out of love are not asking anything for their benefit.

Jesus, our advocate, has composed a prayer for our case. And our advocate is also our judge. He has inserted a condition in the prayer that reads: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Sometimes we say these words without carrying them out. Thus our words bind us more tightly.

– St. Gregory the Great

ANOTHER NEW BOOK

To study "peace" as a specific discipline one must have a research model.  In Peter Wallensteen's book PEACE RESEARCH: Theory and practice he explains the methodologies of different models for varying purposes.  Again, this is a college text.  Wallensteen is a professor at Notre Dame University and at Uppsala University, Sweden (where peace research really began).

In Christ's love,
Fr. Robert Pax

TOLERANCE vs. ACCEPTANCE

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

            We must learn tolerance, and then love.  Let us not confuse tolerance with acceptance, though.  As I stood in line to post a package I noticed, couldn’t help but notice, the young man ahead of me in line.  Shaven head to jackboots, with a jacket emblazoned with a large swastika, his dress screamed, “Look at me!  Fear me!”  Then there was his angry scowl that said, “What?  Don’t look at me!”  I felt my hair bristle.  “Didn’t we crush this satanic group in WW II?”  I was sure I wasn’t alone in thinking so. 

            I must tolerate this young angry man’s experimenting with ideas.  I do not have to accept the ideas.  Instead of crushing, perhaps we must seek to convert.  By God’s grace we can tolerate much and love all.  We act on God’s behalf, and hope for our enemies’ conversion of heart, mind, and soul.

            I then need to ask God for forgiveness for my judgmental nature, and learn to love the young man.  I must love him for God died for him and all.  To do God’s work is to do love all as Christ loved us.

Hebrews 13: [1] Let brotherly love continue.

[2] Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

[3] Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

[4] Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

[5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

[6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

[7] Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

In Christ's love, 
Fr. Robert Pax

NEW BOOK

Dear searcher,

I recently picked up a new book on PEACE.  It is used as a college text:  "GANDHI AND BEYOND:  Nonviolence for a New Political Age," by David Cortright.  I like college texts because they often have very good notes and bibliographies.  It was not an easy read, but it has helped me have a broader focus than the Church.  Government and politics should be understood, even if I would prefer to ignore them and pray.

In Christ's love,
Fr. Robert Pax

WAR IN HEAVEN

Romans 14: [17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

[18] For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

[19] Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

            When Michael and the angelic hosts defeated Lucifer* and his minions the justifications, means, and ends were righteous.  It is worth noting that God did not fight the heavenly war.  As creator he gives all his thinking creatures free will to accept Him or reject Him.  Love can only be reflected freely.  Our God was not happy for this war.  He grieved.  And let us never forget that a creature is easily crushed by its creator.

(*- Lucifer’s light was extinguished by the sin of his pride, and he became Satan.)

Philippians 4: [6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In Christ's love, 
Fr. Robert Pax

23rd Psalm

Psalm 23

[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
[2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
[3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

BODY IN COMMON

As long as this body remains common with the rest, its corporal condition must also be common, and it is not granted the members of the human race to be separated from one another, unless there is withdrawal from this life. Meanwhile, we, good and evil, are contained within our house. Whatever comes within the house we endure with equal fate, until, when our temporal earthly period has been fulfilled, we are distributed among the homes of eternal death or immortality. So then we are not comparable and equal with you, because, while we are still in this world and in this flesh, we incur equally with you the annoyances of the world and of the flesh. For since all that punishes is in the sense of pain, it is manifest that he is not a participant in your punishment whom you see does not suffer pain with you.

– St Cyprian of Carthage

GOLDEN SOULS

Do you wish to honor the Body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in church with silk vestments while outside it is naked and numb with cold. He who said, “This is my body,” and made it so by his word, is the same that said, “You saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.” Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.

–St. John Chrysostom 

RIGHTEOUS ANGER/ RIGHTEOUS WAR

Matthew 21: [12] And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

[13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

            Our Lord cleared the Temple in Jerusalem, His father’s house, in an attitude of righteous anger, not madness.  He did not kill.  He turned ideas and tables upside-down.  Our Lord did not kill!

            So the question must be asked,  “Is there ever a justification for righteous killing or war?”  When protecting self, family, or neighbor from a crazed animal, perhaps.  The faith of Daniel and Francis may point to another conclusion, though.  We must consider that our actions may not be justified to our Lord.  What did Jesus do?

            If ever a war was justified, it would seem World War II would be the one.  The leader of the evil enemy, and his demons, truly seemed to be satanic…pure evil, or without the light of God.  Yet, even in this war, with much justification, there were many atrocities on the side of the righteous.  There is no justification for means that are evil to achieve a holy end.  The very nature of war may preclude there ever being such an invention as a “holy war” or “righteous war” or “just war.”  Again, what did Jesus do?

            “Shades of gray,” “difficult decisions,” and “lesser of evils” may be excuses we need to live with ourselves, but will they allow us to live with Him?

Colossians 3: [12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

[13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

[14] And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

[15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

In Christ's love, 
Fr. Robert Pax

KILL OR MURDER

Matthew 5: 

[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

            A key difficulty with translation is accuracy:  “Thou shalt not kill.”  or “Thou shalt do no murder.”  Of course we are talking about our neighbors, or others created by God.  The first statement seems absolute, that there is no occasion for the killing of another human creature.  The second interpretation/translation seems to suggest something about premeditation and the innocent.  That opens up so many “What ifs…?”  Can we train for and study ways to murder, and use that knowledge always for the Glory of God?

            There is relativism in such ideas.  If we justify such murder in our minds, is it justified in the eyes of God?  Really?  Do means and ends really justify a deed?  How can we kill anyone that our Lord came and died for.  That is, everyone is offered salvation, even our enemies.

            What did Jesus do?  That is the question.  Was He a “ram” or a “lamb”?  Can we protect innocents with violence…murder?  What a contrary thought!  Our Lord did not.

I Corinthians 14: [33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

In Christ's love, 
Fr. Robert Pax