Thought for the Week     11th November 2020

‘’Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’’ (John 14: 27)

Today is Armistice day, when we remember those who lost their lives in active service, not only in the First and Second World Wars but in subsequent conflicts. We salute the courage and selflessness of all those who lost their lives or suffered serious health problems, mental or physical, to defend our freedom.

November 11th is also the Feast Day of St Martin, 4th century Bishop of Tours, who was strongly opposed to violence. There are many fascinating stories about him. Perhaps most relevant today is the way he ended his army career. Martin’s father was a senior officer in the Roman army, given veteran status on his retirement. As the son of a veteran officer, Martin at the age of 15 was required  to join a Roman cavalry unit. He had been attending a Christian church from the age of 10, against the wishes of his parents. He served as part of the Emperor’s bodyguard but when Julian, who was opposed to Christianity,  became Emperor, Martin declared allegiance to a new commanding officer, telling Julian ‘’I am the soldier of Christ. It is not lawful for me to fight’’. This was on the eve of a battle. Martin was charged with cowardice and jailed, but in response to the charge, he volunteered to go unarmed to the front of the troops. His superiors intended to take him up on the offer but before they could, the Gallic invaders sued for peace, the battle never occurred and Martin was discharged from military service. He then followed his Christian vocation, founding monasteries and serving as the third bishop of Tours, a great promoter of peace and supporter of the poor.     

Warfare is a contentious subject. There are differing views as to whether there is such a thing as a ‘’just war’’, embarked upon to uphold justice and freedom, aimed at putting an end to the immense suffering undergone by vulnerable groups of people and persecuted sections of society.  Christians themselves are divided in their thinking, some accepting the inevitability of war given the nature of humanity and the need to protect innocent people while others oppose any  involvement in war as a matter of  conscience. Jesus reminds us that it is easy to love those who love us; the real test is to love our enemy. In recent decades with the advent of terrorist attacks warfare has become much more complex and is not limited to one country fighting another. We are faced with a global threat from terrorism, an often unknown and  unpredictable enemy, not unlike coronavirus. The causes of war are equally complex - disputes over land and resources, power grabbing, religions and ideologies.   

So what are we to do as followers of Jesus?  We can pray for those who have influence over the conduct of war nationally and internationally. In our own locality we may have the opportunity to influence the outcome of local conflicts which often mirror the issues involved in major conflicts, particularly over land. Over the years there have been a number of disputes over boundaries in the road where I live. In one case it has escalated into retaliation, accusations of wilful damage and the threat of litigation. In another matter a Christian builder made a generous offer of help to a prospective neighbour who responded by giving up his claim to a disputed boundary line. We are not called as Christians to seek peace as the world gives, but to accept the freely offered peace of our Lord, a deep internal peace which does not do away with fear and anxiety, but gives us the reassurance that whatever we face, God is with us, his love enfolds us. We are then empowered to share that love with others, even in situations of conflict.

A challenge: when we exchange The Peace during the Eucharist, whether in reality or virtually, what is in our minds? Is it a casual, friendly greeting or are we prayerfully reaching out to the other person, that they might experience the peace of God, which passes all understanding?

Prayer of St Augustine

O Lord, my God,
grant us your peace;
already, indeed, you have made us rich in all things!
Give us that peace of being at rest;
that sabbath peace,
the peace which knows no end.

Amen