Anger, Violence… Not Justified

Perhaps you have seen someone being bullied or harassed at a store, in a restaurant, or on the street. Maybe you approached them to try to diminish the intensity, the anger, and the violence of the situation. Without knowing the initial reason for the conflict, you only knew that such anger, even violence, toward another cannot be justified. The first step – de-escalation. 

You may not have been able to resolve the issue at the center of the encounter, but you wanted to bring a new light, a peace, to that which appeared very dark. You did not seek to take sides, but advocating for the vulnerable is a Christ-like action. “Truth,” “justice,” and “peace” are not opposing perspectives, but rather the goal of every relationship. The second step – peace in truth.

If you could stay with the persons who had been in conflict, you might be able to facilitate reconciliation. Such reconciliation is a profound goal. It will require humility for the involved persons. The kind of resolution about which I am speaking usually requires the passage of time for human beings. But, this third step – reconciliation – is a great goal to be pursued.

Bringing peace and reconciliation to others as Christians is an act of bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to others, that is, “evangelization.” A primary example is when we forgive others, or participate in the act of forgiveness, even that which seems like something “unforgiveable.” Such participation is sharing our faith in Christ, and His Good News: God forgives! We must attempt to forgive, too! Jesus showed us the greatness of God’s desire to forgive. So must we.

Other acts of evangelization include service to the poor and their needs, and service within the community of faith at worship, e.g. participating at/attending the Eucharist, proclaiming God’s Word, serving at the altar, etc. Teaching children and adults about the Christian faith, preparing them for receiving the Sacraments, and showing them how to love and serve their neighbor are additional ways to evangelize.

Ultimately, there is nearly no end to the ways by which we can bring the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ to others. And we evangelize not because we will bring everyone to belief in God through Jesus Christ, but rather because we are responsible for sharing the Good News. We cannot require or force anyone to follow Christ. We invite, and then we welcome those who come to believe. We show them by our actions and teach them by our words that God saves, the meaning of Jesus’s own name: Yeshua – God saves. May we have the courage to share and live that truth.

Peace, Fr. Andy