Luke 1: 76-79 76] And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
[77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
[78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
[79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Any society that works to perfect its ability to kill its members would seem to be premeditating murder. So few highly civilized societies have continued the barbaric practice of death penalties, or state sanctioned murder. This is not what our Lord has asked of us to do. We must ask our cultures to remain above the judgment and blindness of a death penalty in the realm of punishment. There is no peace in such penalties. Vengeance belongs to God, not humans.
Any society, culture, nation, or religion that advocates the destruction of another is rogue to God’s plan for His creation. We must learn to tolerate differences, love the different, and not kill those who are different. We must tolerate to know peace. To have peace we must love even our enemies. This is what our God asks of us.
Any society that does not care for God’s creation is an agent of the devil. God’s creation, in the beginning, was the very definition of beauty, harmony, and peace. So much of this creation is being destroyed that we have begun to see demonic disaster. We must preserve to know peace. We are the gardeners in the garden. We must care for it. Destruction of creation will leave no room for peace. Species competition will lead to the end of life on this planet. Environmental collapse will be irreversible. If we love God and His creation we must stop this sinful destruction. We need creation to know peace.
Philippians 4: [11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
In Christ's love,
Fr. Robert Pax
