It has been a hard week to be a Christian. The terrorist attacks in Beirut, Paris and Nigeria and the many places that have not hit the news have continued to challenge us in how we live our faith in Jesus Christ in the world. As a former Marine we often spoke the words, “peace through superior fire power,” I know that ultimately that is not the answer and yet we can struggle with what our response should be and how we are called to protect our family, community and ultimately our world from the destructive force of terror and those who act in the name of God committing the atrocities that take innocent and vulnerable lives.

We know the answer: his name is Jesus. We also know we often fail to live up to our call to follow him. Because of this, as in the past so in the future, we will be called hypocrites for not living up to what we believe and fools for seeking to do so in confronting evil with love. We will argue and pray in the same voice as we seek to follow Jesus and reach out with love, compassion, mercy and forgiveness while offering justice and hope to the victims of these acts of violence as well as those who perpetrate these same acts.

What can we do? That is the million-dollar question moving forward. Once more we know the answer: his name is Jesus. We know in faith that he has conquered sin and death and our response to evil is always His peace given, poured out and shared. Our response is to be the Eucharistic people that we proclaim and live the Eucharistic life of recognizing our sinfulness and extending the mercy that God gives to us to our brothers and sisters. We must not be a people who hide behind the walls of our faith but a people who reach out in justice and mercy as workers in the field hospital of the world so in need of a hand of love.

We must trust in the Word of God, Jesus Christ from the beginning to the end. We must trust that he has conquered sin and death even when it seems evil has replaced peace and joy. We must trust that the devil who tempts men and women to act in ways that destroys the fabric of family and community is defeated by the Blood of the Lamb. We must see the love of God in the very violence and hatred because in that brokenness is the path to peace.

I trust that these acts of hatred have blown open the doors for the movement of the Holy Spirit to engage all people of good will to live the great Year of Mercy our Catholic Church is proclaiming in the coming year. In that we must be vigilant and not foolish trusting in Gospel of life. Our faith challenges us to seek peace as we live the virtues of faith, hope and love echoing the words of John the Baptist, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29) as we proclaim, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”(1 Cor 1:18)
Pray for peace…Our Lady of Peace…pray for us.

God Bless

Fr. Mark