Memorial of Saint John de Brébeuf and Saint Isaac Jogues, priests and martyrs, and their companions
“Peace be with you.” We say these words to each other in the mass every time it is celebrated. What do we mean by this? First and foremost we are expressing the spiritual fact that in Christ there is no division between believers, but second, we are expressing our personal commitment not to engage in strife and to work to resolve and eradicate any divisions that we encounter in the body of Christ.
In the first reading for today, Paul continues on theme that he addressed in Galatians as well. This is the theme of how Christians should appropriate or not appropriate the Mosaic law. In so doing, Paul remarks significantly on the role of Christ as peacemaker and source of unity among Christians. Paul reminds the Ephesians, who are largely Gentiles, that they have been united to God’s chosen people, Israel, and that this is accomplished through Jesus sacrifice and though the work of the Holy Spirit who was given as a gift to Jesus’ disciples. As far as the law goes, it is no longer needed, because Christians now have the more perfect example of Jesus Christ and the possibility of spiritual regeneration through him. Paul states that Jesus came to bring unity and peace; more specifically, he states that Jesus has come to bring peace between Jews and Gentiles. (Elsewhere Paul teaches that peace is one of the fruits of the spirit). Although this peace has already been accomplished in Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, there are still many ways that peace must not be taken for granted but remains instead a goal that constantly needs to be worked on.
Ideally, all followers of Jesus are supposed to be at peace with one another, but this not always the case. The first reading thus leads us to reflect on the ways in which there may or may not be unity and peace between Christians today. It seems to me that we can be divided by race, gender, nationality, class, economic status, politics, etc. One of our tasks as Christians is to see such divisions for what they are – i.e. sinful exclusions of one person from the goodwill and charity of the other and to acknowledge that they hide from us the fact that we are all one in Christ. Paul tells us that one thing we all have in common is our powerlessness as individual human beings and without God’s help to achieve our salvation (Ephesians 2: 3-9). Reflecting on this fact can give us perspective and diminish the pride that is so often the root of divisions between Christians.
The gospel reading for today tells us to be vigilant, to wait expectantly for Jesus’ second coming. But that raises the question of what it means to be vigilant. Obviously we should be trying to live in a way that Jesus would approve of and to seek to do God’s will at all times. Futhermore, we need to aspire to diligence in prayer. Yet, taking a clue from Paul in Ephesians we must also emulate Christ—to be peacemakers both among Christians and, more broadly, among all people.
- Joel Schickel