Word to the Wise
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 29th Tuesday in Ordinary Time
[Ephesians 2:12-22 and Luke 12:35-38]He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
The Letter to the Ephesians is referring to non-Jewish converts to Christianity as well as Jews who considered themselves members of the new community. Jesus is seen as the one who created a new reality which gave the same salvation to all who accept it. The result should be peace between Jew and non-Jew. Yet we know that has been difficult to achieve, if at all. One wonders if the writer remembered the words of Jesus about his being a cause of division to the point that families and spouses would be fighting one another. When one looks at the history of our faith, conflict seems to be the rule instead of peace. Yet, Jesus used the expression, "Peace be with you!" in his post-resurrection appearances. The goal is to love God and neighbor. Yet many times we do what Jesus also predicted - namely, that persecution may take place under the color of pleasing God! It is still happening in our time! We must never give up on peace. Mutual destruction in the name of faith is blasphemy because we are all God's children and we can never attack one another in the name of God. As Ephesians says in this same reading, "For he is our peace...." If only we could recognize that. AMEN
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