Today's Scripture Reading (December 16, 2020): John 12
Albert Einstein argued that "peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved
by understanding." George Carlin said the same thing, although admittedly
in a more vulgar manner. "Fighting for peace is like [making love] for
virginity." (If you are offended by Carlin's amended thoughts, I hope you
will forgive its inclusion here.) The problem that both Einstein and Carlin recognize
is that you cannot get to peace through actions that destroy the very fabric of
peace. I might add that we can't get to silence by turning up the volume. And
neither can we get to understanding by sending the message with a louder voice.
Often, when someone disagrees with us, rather than trying a different argument
to advance our perspective, we make the same argument at a higher volume
setting. It is an amazing and ludicrous thing for us to do. But we do it anyway
and believe that, somehow, we will win; that, somehow, we will get to peace.
Jesus preached a message of peace.
Yes, he said that he had come to bring division and not peace (Luke 12:51), but
that was because Jesus knew that his message of peace would not be accepted. In
every generation, some people reject the central principles of peace. Sometimes,
these people are found in our own families, causing conflict, and ironically, a
lack of peace.
But Jesus came in peace. The proof
is found in the rabbi's entry into Jerusalem less than a week before his
execution at the hands of the society's religious elite. We sometimes miss the
symbolism, but it was not an accidental happening that Jesus entered the city
riding on a donkey's colt. There was a message in the moment. When a conquering
king entered a city, he did so on a warhorse. But if the king came in peace,
then he entered the city on a donkey.
Jesus came in peace. But peace, all
peace, requires at least two partners. And on this Sunday, there was only one side
that wanted peace. As Jesus enters the city, his opponents had already decided
that what they wanted was violence. Jesus might have come in peace, but he
would not be received in peace. And in a few days, the peaceful king would be
tried, and ironically part of the charge against him would be inciting violence
against Rome.
Did his opponents understand the
message? Yes, but understanding and acceptance are two different things. And maybe
Einstein was wrong. It is not just understanding each other required for peace,
but also the acceptance of the other, even amid our disagreements.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Matthew 22
No comments:
Post a Comment