Cathedral Family,
In the readings for this weekend, we hear about the “necessity to pray always without losing heart.” The Old Testament reading from Exodus tells the story of Moses interceding in prayer while his nation is at war with the neighboring Amaleks. While Moses’ hands were lifted in prayer, Israel had the better of the fight. His hands grew tired and he needed Aaron and Hur to keep them lifted up. Prayer is a team sport.
War is a sad reality of the brokenness that comes about from Original Sin. Peace is God’s plan---but hardened hearts resist God’s plan and conflict arises. Those unjustly accosted then have a right to defend themselves. St. Augustine long ago discerned principles to describe what is known in our tradition as the “just war theory.” We do know that war and bloodshed sadden God’s heart. He prefers to win us over through the power of His grace. It was resistance to God’s peace, offered in Jesus, that brought about the tragic witness of the passion and crucifixion of God’s own son. But the resurrection won. Hostile conflict between nations and peoples have raged since biblical times. However, the Father continues to plead with His children to turn to works of mercy and peace.
The news cycle over these past days have been dominated by the historic US diplomatic achievement that has ended hostilities in Gaza after two brutal years of war. News sources report that there will be two further phases of securing a stabilized atmosphere in the Middle East. Our president and US diplomacy are certainly and rightfully credited as instrumental in this remarkable success.
However, we who have prayed from all over the world for “peace in the Middle East,” must realize that the source of all good, the source of healing, comes from God Himself. Last week, in our Gospel reading from St. Luke, we heard about the healing of the 10 lepers. Only one came back to thank God. It seems our world can too easily look to the instruments of the peace talks as the originators and source of the success---yet it is only God---who can ultimately turn the hardened heart to peace. It is a supernatural happening. When Our Lady appeared in Fatima in 1917---her message was that the world must turn to praying the Rosary for peace in the world. She was preparing us, through those apparitions, that the coming century would be filled with grave national tensions—war--- tyranny---bloodshed and destruction. All because of the unrest of the human heart. War is first of all an activity within us. Peace is the byproduct of aligning our heart with the will of God.
Each morning, I hear faithful women and men praying the rosary here at St. Francis. Last weekend, we had a public rosary praying for peace. In our petitions at Sunday mass, we pray for peace in worn torn areas of the world. We must not miss the glory to be given to God for hearing our prayers in the recent ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages. Indeed, skillful diplomacy. But more so, the grace of God being poured on the earth because His children are crying out to Him. God has visited His people.
Let us continue to seek to be peacemakers among division and conflict in our own spheres of influence. May we pray and “not lose heart.” And let us Thank God for His many graces that have brought a fragile peace to the Middle East.
In Jesus,
Father Christy