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Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born in the Holy Land - what we call the Middle East - at a time when foreign occupation and cruelty abounded. Considering the culture He was born into, His message is all the more stunning because of its hope and instruction: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Turn the other cheek. Forgive seventy times seven. Follow the example of the Good Samaritan, and offer relief and help to those in need, even to your cultural enemies. The Kingdom of God is among us now.
If we take the instructions of Jesus seriously, where might they lead us? How do we honor the reign of God that is in our midst? What do we do with the gift of peace that He left us on the night before he died? I believe that the capacity of peace is within every human heart. Peace is available to us now, but only if we choose it, and actively keep on doing so. Just as children have a great imagination around Christmas, so too, we must have an overly active imagination about peace and the message of Jesus in 2005.
Since the beginning of the Christian Way, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christians have lived in the culture of their times, but they also have been a pocket of resistance to the culture. As people who believe in Jesus and His message, we need to stop during this Christmas season and ask ourselves if we are truly responding to the song of the angels: "Peace on earth and goodwill to all."
One on my favorite Christmas songs is a ballad by John McCutcheon, Christmas in the Trenches. It tells the story (a true story) of German and Allied soldiers laying down their weapons one Christmas during World War I and approaching each other, white flag in hand, to meet and celebrate Christmas with each other.
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Christmas carols were sung together in German and English; cigarettes, chocolates, and pictures from home were shared until the next day, and then the war resumed again.
The ballad goes on to conclude, "Each Christmas come since WWI, I've learned its lessons well: That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame; and on each end of the rifle we're the same." This song reminds us that today's enemy is tomorrow's friend. Look at our American history and the wars our young have fought. Nations, once our enemies, are now our friends. What about our present war? Are we approaching it as disciples of the Prince of Peace? How can we? Will we? Why not?
As I reminisce this Christmas Day, especially about my loved ones who have passed over to the other side of life, I remember clearly the first funeral I ever attended. I was only five at the time. My cousin, Lee, was killed in Korea at the age of 19 in 1950. We went to Fort Snelling Cemetery for the funeral and burial. What if he had lived beyond his nineteen years? What good could he have done? Would the world, or at least a few people, have had a better life if he had lived? What if no one died in war and was buried at Fort Snelling? Imagine! One day all Muslims, and Iraqis in particular, might be our friends. How can we imagine a world at peace? I think that is the message of Christmas… Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Born into a cruel world over 2,000 years ago, He preached peace and forgiveness. He continues to call His followers to be peacemakers!
Merry Christmas!
Why? I have hope…
"Peace on earth, goodwill to all." Don't you?
Fr. Bill
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