Peace, but at a cost

     Those of us of a certain generation remember the two raised fingers of the peace sign or the other placard that represented the sentiment (I see it again these days in a new version of the old tie-dyed tee's).  We may remember the "peace-nik's" and the anti war protests of the sixties and seventies and the hippies.  They were turbulant times of conflicting  positions and angry responses to the quest for peace.  I remember many of us from the seminary travelling to Washington to serve as "marshalls" at the big peace march, wearing blue arm bands and wearing the collar, hopefully serving as a deterant to violence.  It was scarry.

     Peace is still a reality that we have not yet attained, and that, too, is scarry.  The fact that Christ gave peace as His parting gift to us, and showed us the way to peace, makes our failures even more outstanding.  How did we "miss the boat"?

     Rather than sway back and forth, with arms intertwined and chanting "All we are saying, is give peace a chance", we need to face the harsh reality that peace comes at a cost.  It must be sought out, worked for, and brought about by laying our lives on the line.  In today's gospel from Luke, Jesus appears to the eleven and says "Peace be with you".  Then he shows them his hands and his feet, reminding them that this peace came at a great price.  He laid his life on the line so that we may come to know, in him, that deep, all consuming peace that leads to life.

     The wrongness or rightness of conflict involves other questions and considerations.  The attainment of peace in our hearts and lives requires a union with the risen Lord that allows us to embrace his suffering and death out of love and respect for all of our brothers and sisters.   Peace requires love, love requires sacrifice, sacrifice requires the Cross, and the Cross leads to the Resurrection.  Remember that this Easter Season, and admit the Peace of Christ into your hearts and minds.

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     Tonight is the annual Salt and Light Dinner sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg.  It is held locally at Stratigo's Banquet Facility.  More on the event, and those honored, in tomorrow's post.