Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 19:1-8; John 16:29-33)
As we pray for our war dead today, we need to face the horror of it all. Once a movie featuring the British Air Force during World War I exposed the frivolousness with which aviators spoke about battle. The film made clear that only because they never witnessed the actual deaths or saw the remains of fallen comrades, could pilots boast of the glory of combat. Surely, a more realistic viewpoint is that of the infantryman like Wilfred Owen, the English poet who died in World War I. He writes that if we could see war’s vile and gore, we would not say “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (that it is a sweet and noble thing to die for one’s country).
In the gospel Jesus assures us that despite the horror of war or of any other evil, we can be at peace. We need not worry because he has conquered the twin nemeses of evil and death. We only have to remain close to him. And if we, like his disciples, find ourselves separated from him, we only have to turn again in his direction asking forgiveness.
Showing posts with label World War I. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World War I. Show all posts
Homilette for February 28, 2008
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
(Lk 11:14-23)
In preparing for war, a nation typically demonizes its enemy. It makes the enemy appear as less than civil, often as downright diabolical. It uses preponderantly negative stories to describe the enemy’s character. Exaggeration will take over reality to make it seem that the enemy is a cancer that must be extricated immediately. In Iraq five years ago the U.S. Government emphasized Saddam Hussein’s use of chemical weapons in the war against Iran during the 1980s. In World War I, the German invaders were first depicted as killing the French and Belgian civilians. Within days, however, they were pictured as chopping off children’s hands and lopping women’s breasts. Such demonization is necessary to move a nation to war. Little short of eliminating a curse that threatens a people existence will do.
In the gospel some people in the crowd literally demonize Jesus after he exorcizes a demon. They say that he can cast out a demon because he is in league with the prince of demons. The normal response to such a positive action as Jesus’ is gratefulness. After all, he has just given someone a new lease on life. But Jesus’ message accompanying his wondrous deeds involves radical reform. The people must, in Jesus’ words, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”
Perhaps many of us, as well, demonstrate such reservation about reforming our lives. After all, it takes prayerful effort to stop thinking impure thoughts, to speak sincerely with perceived adversaries, and to give generously to the needy. We should look closely to see how much God loves us. He has given us life and called us around the table of His son. He will provide for us in death as well, when the taste of Christ’s body and blood that we have now will be transformed into a full banquet of joy.
(Lk 11:14-23)
In preparing for war, a nation typically demonizes its enemy. It makes the enemy appear as less than civil, often as downright diabolical. It uses preponderantly negative stories to describe the enemy’s character. Exaggeration will take over reality to make it seem that the enemy is a cancer that must be extricated immediately. In Iraq five years ago the U.S. Government emphasized Saddam Hussein’s use of chemical weapons in the war against Iran during the 1980s. In World War I, the German invaders were first depicted as killing the French and Belgian civilians. Within days, however, they were pictured as chopping off children’s hands and lopping women’s breasts. Such demonization is necessary to move a nation to war. Little short of eliminating a curse that threatens a people existence will do.
In the gospel some people in the crowd literally demonize Jesus after he exorcizes a demon. They say that he can cast out a demon because he is in league with the prince of demons. The normal response to such a positive action as Jesus’ is gratefulness. After all, he has just given someone a new lease on life. But Jesus’ message accompanying his wondrous deeds involves radical reform. The people must, in Jesus’ words, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”
Perhaps many of us, as well, demonstrate such reservation about reforming our lives. After all, it takes prayerful effort to stop thinking impure thoughts, to speak sincerely with perceived adversaries, and to give generously to the needy. We should look closely to see how much God loves us. He has given us life and called us around the table of His son. He will provide for us in death as well, when the taste of Christ’s body and blood that we have now will be transformed into a full banquet of joy.
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