Peace and the Cross

[A homily on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on the occasion of the University Day of Peace of the Central Mindanao University in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon (September 14, 2012)]

The talent show, X Factor, in Australia had an interesting contestant during last year’s season. Emmanuel Kelly, like his brother Ahmed, was born in a war zone in Iraq with no birth certificate or any documentation to prove their identity. They were found in a Baghdad park in a shoe box by nuns who, in turn, brought them to an orphanage. Eventually, they were adopted by Moira Kelly, an Australian lady who is the boss of Children First Foundation, who brought them to Australia for surgery. Both children suffered from limb deficiencies as a result of chemical warfare. After such quick background presentation, the now teenager Emmanuel auditioned in the X Factor Australia and sung his heart out by rendering John Lennon’s “Imagine,” winning the hearts of the crowd and constraining many to reach for their tissues to wipe their tears while listening to this boy who, behind his incredible story, has an amazing, awe-inspiring voice.

Today, the Catholic Church throughout the world celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and, at the same time, Central Mindanao University celebrates its University Day of Peace, in conjunction with the United Nations’ observance of the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2012. Is there a relationship between peace and the cross?

     In the Gospel passage in today’s liturgy, we find the arguably most famous verse in the Bible – John 3:16, which states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have everlasting life.” The phrase, “he gave his only Son,” meant not only that his only Son became a human being like us, but, above all, it meant letting Jesus die on the cross as a sacrificial lamb for the redemption of sinful humankind, for our salvation – the best expression of God’s love for His children. At the resurrection, when Jesus stood before the eleven who were hiding in a room, afraid of the Jews, did he tell them, “Mga wala moy puangud; inyo kong gibiyaan!” (Ruthless people, you abandoned me!) No, He said to them, “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19). No bitterness, no anger, but instead He gave them peace, breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit.

Emmanuel’s and his brother Ahmed’s lives were, indeed, marked by crosses and suffering, innocent suffering. But a kindhearted lady, Moira Kelly, came to adopt them, making them her own. Thus, came love and peace to their lives.

The theme chosen for the International Day of Peace is: “Sustainable peace for a sustainable future.” But, what is peace, in the first place? Is it the absence of war? It is merely our goal? I would like to think of peace the way Martin Luther King did. For him, “Peace is a way of life.” Peace is the way we live. Peace is to live with respect and love toward others. Peace is the journey or, better yet, the process of conversion from egoism to altruism – from the “I”, “me”, “mine” to the “you”, “yours”. The peace day webpage of the official website of the United Nations reports, “The root causes of many conflicts are directly related to or fuelled by valuable natural resources, such as diamonds, gold, oil, timber or water” (http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/). The causes of conflicts are natural resources – Mother Earth’s generous and free gift to humankind. Ironically, a few but powerful people who are in the position and are supposed to take care of Mother Earth just want to take and take from her selfishly.

No sustainable peace, no sustainable future. And how do we make peace sustainable? Martin Luther King already said it. Peace can only be sustained if we make it our way of life, our lifestyle. If we examine the way we treat our classmates, dorm mates, professors, deans, officials, fellow faculty members, are we courteous to them? Do we treat them with respect and utter loving words to them? Or are we rather rude, inconsiderate, and selfish to them?

     Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, for as long as there are – and will be – Emmanuels in the world, we need not imagine if there’s heaven or hell. For we know in faith that there is heaven, and there is hell. But whether or not we will experience heaven or hell already in this life, it is something that greatly depends on you and me. Coincidentally, this gifted boy is called Emmanuel, which means, “God-with-us.” In fact, Jesus died for us to save us. Moreover, God is not only with us, He is also in us, and “God-in-us” has a name – Holy Spirit. St. Paul reminds us, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you” (1Cor 6:19). Let us, then, give Him a chance to make us peaceable men and women for the sake of our children and our children’s children. Amen.