Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Read Acts 27:39-44

Does it make sense to kill more than 200 prisoners, who had barely survived shipwreck, so that "none might swim away and escape"? We know that one prisoner, Paul, had committed no violent offense, but was on his way to appear before the Emperor in Rome. Fortunately, a centurion intervened so that the soldiers could not carry out their plan.

Questions of "law and order" are often difficult to resolve. However, as followers of the nonviolent Christ, we ought to seek first a nonviolent resolution. Jesus teaches us to love and pray for our enemies. Especially in the midst of chaos and confusion, as in this story, we can choose to respect the sacred worth of every life.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon,
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
St. Francis of Assisi