Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
Yesterday we remembered a man of great faith and conviction, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Perhaps no other figure in the history of our nation embodied the power of faith in the struggle for justice. One of the themes Dr. King constantly returned to in his writings and sermons was the intimate relationship of “means and ends” in the pursuit of peace. For example, he states, “We must see that the end represents the means in process and the ideal in the making.” The pursuit of peace, authentic peace, cannot be enacted through violence, through the tip of the sword, or the barrel of a gun. For Dr. King, true authentic peace is more than the absence of violence. It is unity in Christ and the affirmation of the image of God in every person. This unity and affirmation is not only the goal but also the means whereby we achieve this goal. Today’s readings coincide nicely with our remembrance of Dr. King.
The first reading, from the Book of Samuel, speaks to the peaceful means of conveying God’s message.
God commands Samuel to appoint a new king to replace Saul. Samuel’s initial reaction is one of fear. He is certain Saul will kill him if he follows God’s command. Still, Samuel obeys in spite of the considerable danger obedience might bring. When he arrives at Bethlehem, the city elders question him: “Is your visit peaceful, O seer?” Ironically, Samuel who is afraid of Saul is met by those afraid of the one who anointed Saul. However, Samuel affirms his peaceful intentions with both sacrifice and celebration.
The second reading, from the gospel of Mark, speaks to the unsettling effect of the Gospel. Observing Christ’s disciples picking grain on the Sabbath, the Pharisees question the lawfulness of performing this “work” on the day of rest. Christ responds by pointing out that David broke with custom in order to feed his hungry companions. In other gospels, the question, posed more precisely, is whether or not it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. To feed the hungry is good, thus accords with the Sabbath. Though congruent with the spirit of the Sabbath law, it is reasonable to infer that Christ’s answer unsettled the community’s understanding of law and custom.
These passages speak to the peace of Christ not only as a goal but also the ideal in the making. To spread the peace of Christ is not a simple task, it is often unsettling and sometimes met with considerable resistance. It seems that how we spread this peace matters, particularly because it is unsettling. Of course, very few of us will encounter the tribulations, dangers, and sacrifice of Dr. King and the civil rights movement. But, we can take from him and them the lessons of peace as more than a goal but also an act. The Gospel may unsettle but it also enacts the answer to the question: “Is your visit peaceful?”
Today let us ponder in our hearts the peace of Christ as both means and end.
- Fr. Satish Joseph