By Fr. Vincent Karatunga_ Executive Secretary Inter-Religious Dialogue and Ecumenism at Uganda Catholic Secretariat …….
In the New Testament, the concept of Peace as a mission and ministry of Jesus is first underlined by St. Luke (2:13-14). In the gospel, the Angel appeared to the shepherds in the wilderness taking care of their flock. He announced to them the good news of the dawning of peace “on earth” through the birth of the savior. Thus,
“And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
In this case, the shepherds became the first pilgrims of the New Testament in search of the promised peace through Christ the authentic and incorruptible agent of “God’s peace on earth “to those in whom His favor rests”. Having witnessed the birth of Christ the true and perfect communicator of the ‘Father’s Peace’, their hearts are filled with joy and peace.
As communicators of the marvels of God, their lives are transformed. They are immediately commissioned to go out and communicate the very peace to others without distortion or manipulation. They move in solidarity and communion with one another to announce the marvels of God. This peace had eluded them; often living in fear but in hope for security of both their own lives and that of their flock.
They affirm and confirm that indeed, in the “new born baby of Bethlehem” God’s era of joy and peace has dawned. “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them” (Lk. 2:20). They couldn’t afford to keep the joy and happiness to themselves. They remained authentic in their message in both content and context.
In our won time, every baptized is “Called and sent to be an authentic Agent of proclamation of peace”. However, before embarking on this extra-ordinary ministry which is revealed unto us in ordinary mode of our lives, Christians must be able to internalize both the content and context of this mission.
In the final document of Francis XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, “For A Synodal Church”; Communion Participation Mission, 2021-2014, no.53, the Holy Father highlights that, “The call to renewed relationships in the Lord Jesus flourishes in the different context in which the disciples live and carry out the Church’s mission”, and that the plurality of cultures requires that the uniqueness of each cultural context is taken into account”.
Religious diversity is part of this pluralism which calls for intent listening to both the faith story and experience of the other in order to be able to arrive at mutual trust and respect for the other. “Listening is a fundamental element of the path to healing, repentance, justice and reconciliation (no.55). The Church, and more so every baptized as “a pilgrim of hope on the way to peace”, and an indispensable agent of the gospel, like the shepherds in the gospel, must cultivate an attitude of listening with special attention and sensitivity” aimed at promoting harmony and peaceful co-existence.
Like the shepherds in the gospel, every Christian is called and sent to be a communicator of God’s marvelous gift of peace in a world torn apart by hatred, conflict and division based on differences, including religious differences, to be an instrument of dialogue; a dialogue that build bridges of peace and love across the barriers of differences. It highlights the shared fraternity ingrained in the common humanity which binds us together as a family.
“Fraternity implies inclusiveness not only to my group, community, culture, religion but of all, as brother or sister. To live in fraternity becomes the dynamic, by which we rise above differences and instead build bridges of coexistence for a new world” (Card. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot).
In the Gospel of St. Mark (6:7:13), the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope on the way to Peace” is underlined by the great commission of the disciples by the Master. He calls out his disciples and sends them out on the mission two by two. They are commissioned to go for a special mission; “to proclaim the Good News and restore hope to the broken hearted.”
In the same gospel, the Lord warns the disciples against the temptation and risk of abuse of the prophetical gift they have received. Abuse may come in form of distortion, omission, or manipulation of the message. These are risks for every disciple of our time. It may happen in both content and context and in the long run, may lead to; self-indulgence, pride, arrogance, self-gratification, self-seeking, disrespect etc. This and many others, a disciple must avoid by cultivating an attitude of intent “listening” to the other.
Vested with the authority from God to communicate the marvels of His love and peace; and as “Pilgrims of Hope on the way to Peace” in the footsteps of the Shepherds (Lk. 2:13-14), through dialogue with those who profess a different faith from our own, let us all be active participants in the mission of re-constructing and promoting a just social order where love, forgiveness, peace and the Mercy of God prevail over injustice, discrimination, hunger, disease, wars, conflicts and violence. These are the critical causes which undermine and abuse the dignity of the human person created in the image of God. They distort and manipulate the concept of peace.
As “Pilgrims of hope on the way to Peace”, we pray for both the Spirit and Grace of God to help and strengthen and help us to remain authentic communicators of the Marvels of God entrusted unto us.
Email: karatunga.ird@yahoo.com
