The Absurdity of Peace

I heard the news just about an hour ago.  In the plight of rising tensions between Hamas (and subsequently and unfortunately Palestine) and Israel, Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crashed over Eastern Ukraine after being shot down by separatist forces.  As if they didn't already have the world's attention, they got it even more now.

Praying for peace at this point seems absurd, and this coming from a pastor who feels that his prayer life with God is strong enough.  Praying for peace day-in and day-out while the sky is falling around us because of human selfishness and inconsideration seems to diminish the impact prayer has.  In fact, a childhood misconception of prayer is God as a genie; all we have to do is begin with "I wish..." and God will perform to our standards.

But praying for peace is truly all we can do.  Part of the absurdity of praying for peace is that we are holding out for a miracle that only God can bring.  We're being foolish, many would comment, because things like war and retaliation can bring peace; prayer, it would be argued, seems to do nothing.  However, Christianity is foolishness in its fullness, "for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (1 Corinthians 3:19) and "for God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom and God's weakness is stronger than human weakness" (1 Corinthians 1:25).  If we want peace, it can only come by God's will, through God's grace, and directed by God's power.  Peace on any other terms isn't peace; it's just supplanting our own ways above another person's.  If I want peace in Israel, what would peace look like?  Would it be Israelites secure in the Gaza strip?  Would Palestinians have a place to live or be recognized?  Would Jordanians allow Israel to be a country?  What about the inequalities that if the Palestinians gave into would promote lack of humanity?  My definition of peace in just such a battle as those living in and around the Holy Lands very well might not be peace to all people.  Indeed, peace in my mind wouldn't even recognize people taking action into their own hands at the cost of innocents dying; haven't I too denied the human rights and feelings of those feeling the pain of abuse?

So what hope then do we have in praying for peace?  It is the only solution we have.  "For in hope we are saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes in what is seen?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:24-25)  "And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given us" (Romans 5:3-5).  We hope in God's activity, a miracle of God intervening in this world.  And God will, and indeed is, acting.  I assure you that more and more nations are coming together to defend people's rights, and even Palestinians and Israelis are reconciling.  For years, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were at a same tense point; tension has eased and will hopefully one day be a thing of history.  God is quelling hard hearts and uniting people.  God is on the move!

Indeed, we hope and pray for what we cannot see, knowing that all things are in God's hand.  God will bring peace...  God will bring peace...

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today, I urge you to start a vigil with me.  Every night, pray for peace, the peace of Christ, not the peace "as the world gives; do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 15:27)  But know that all things are in God's hands and all things are precious to God, those that reflect God's image (Genesis 1:27).  And pray with me now:

"O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace.  Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows, and give peace to your church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."  (ELW 76)

Everything will be alright.  "Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 6:23-24).  Amen.