Isaiah 57:15–19
Philippians 4:6–9
John 14:23–29
The word we have just heard at the Eucharist on Independence Day has a clear theme—peace. Each text from the Word has highlighted that word and that reality. A word check of the Declaration of Independence, whose promulgation 244 years ago today we recall, contains the word “peace” three times. Each time it is paired with war or a metaphor for war. Needless to say, the peace we wish to remember today at the Eucharist has another meaning. And yet, we know that the classical phrases from the Declaration that quickly come to mind “that all men are created equal” “that they are endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights” and that among these are “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are in reality a clear recognition of and constituent of the peace of which we in the Judeo-Christian community know so well and stand firm in in hope.
We gather today in 2020 with the words of the Prophet, Paul and Jesus and with the words of the Declaration, and we know that in some way we have yet to believe them and allow them to work a transformation in our lives and in the country or polis in which we find ourselves. With the corona pandemic, with the racial injustice and the violence it has stirred, with the uneasiness of some, if not many, government policies, and with difficulty in naming the common good, we are well aware that the human vision of the nation and the Gospel hope of peace, combined as always with justice, is still something we work for. Perhaps Independence Day 2020 is a time to recall what are the essentials that hold us together.
For us who hear the words of the Gospel, it will always be Jesus and the Kingdom that will guide us in giving shape to a peace that holds all together. For us, the Risen Lord will always be the source of unity created from the richness of diversity. And also, we will stand firm in knowing that any fragment or face of peace, justice and unity is above all a gift: “My peace I give to you.” We can declare that we want peace, but it can only come about by recognizing that it is held out to us as a gift from the one who can bind us into one Body, one people. True wholeness and peace can only happen when we are joined to the source of that peace, unity and shalom.
St. Paul today asks us to consider and think about whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, gracious and has excellence about it. We can safely say that in the classical words we know from the Declaration, we have heard something that is true, just, lovely and gracious. Where we can recognize any of that in human words and hope, then traces of peace are to be found. The words of the Prophet and Jesus about peace are lifted up and are carried down to our own times that we may live by them and know that in our relationship with Jesus they can become true. True peace is found within a relationship with God who, as the prophet says, is as much on high as he is with the crushed and dejected in spirit. It is found in the relationship with Jesus whose word contains his love for us. Being faithful to his word will keep us in peace.
And should human society falter and forget what is beautiful, just, gracious and true, then we are the ones who hold up again the banner that says they are still here: we are created in God’s image and in that is our equality in diversity; we are created for life, which flows from God and is found in our relationships with others; we are created for freedom—a freedom that unbinds us from any kind of slavery and restores us to a dignity that comes from within, from the Spirit implanted in our hearts.
We rightly give thanks today for any trace of God’s Kingdom and justice that the human heart has recognized and spoken about. We also want to remain firm in that longing for justice and authentic freedom which we believe is truly the goal of humanity. May the Word that speaks to us today of peace challenge us into pursuing it as the psalmist says and St. Benedict confirms. And may we again declare that Christ is the light that guides our feet into way of peace.
~Prior, Fr. Joel Macul, OSB