Feb 12 - Holy Hour for Peace in our Nation

Holy Hour for Peace in Our Nation (Feb 12)

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

“Peace, peace to far and near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.” Thus prophesized Isaiah. At every Mass we repeat the Lord’s words: “My peace I leave you. My peace I give you”. And this evening, we gather to pray for peace in our country and within our hearts.    
 
Recently, Archbishop Paul Coakley, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, (a seminary schoolmate) citing the growing sense of “powerlessness in the face of violence and unrest,” asked that Catholics offer a holy hour for peace. In the face of lawlessness and rhetoric on all sides that dehumanize others – our own faithfulness matters. Our prayers matter. Our acts of love matter. Archbishop Coakley rightly asks:  “What Happens to a Nation When Violence no Longer Shocks us?” Are we not at this point in our country?  
 
The last two years alone have seen a heart-rending litany of tragedies that affect all facets of our national life. I need not name them. The streets of our major cities are the scene of violence resulting in deaths, injuries, and the destruction of property. So much of this is the fruit of harsh and hateful rhetoric from all sides crossing all boundaries of politics, age, and religion.  
 
But there is a common failure that connects this litany of unrest—the failure to respect the God-given dignity of every human being as made in the image and likeness of God. And that failure causes a breakdown in dialogue and the spirit of goodwill. We hear instead a daily rhetoric from opposing sides that poisons hearts and degrades the dignity of others.  
 
On July 4^th we shall celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country. We are not a perfect country but we are a great and good country. Our anniversary is an occasion to celebrate the founding ideals that helped shape America. May it be an occasion to restore and strengthen the ideals of justice and peace. St. Paul VI reminded us, if we want peace—work for justice!    
 
The climate of fear and polarization in which we live  does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel. Nor does it meet our ideals as Americans. Pope Francis spoke of three principles to guide us in facing our challenges:  
 
The first is Generosity. This is a quality that has always characterized the American people, who have always shared their blessings with the needy and helped to rebuild peoples’ lives. We have rebuilt countries after wars. May it continue to be the hallmark of our nation.  
 
The second is Prudence. Let us pray for our civil leaders and urge them to devise a just method by which we can help our brothers and sisters in need while upholding our laws and insuring the safety and security of all.  
 
The third is Integration. Political leaders should end polarizing rhetoric and enter a sincere dialog to help integrate those who come to our country so that they can contribute to the rich fabric of  our country.  
 
All of this work should be accompanied by our prayer—persistent prayer, tenacious prayer, tenacious as that of the widow in the Gospel parable. Our faithfulness matters. Our prayers matter. Our acts of love matter. So we have come into your Presence. O Lord. Grant our nation peace and harmony. Grant peace within our hearts as well. May ours be a time when “kindness and truth shall meet, justice and peace shall kiss.”