War or Reconciliation?

In the Bible the gospel is called the gospel of peace. Peace is everyone’s yearning here in Mindanao . For how can we have progress without peace? There is a truth in a sentence by Benjamin Franklin who said: “There never was a good war or a bad peace.” Why? Could you pay enough for the value of one life? Why did Jesus say: “If you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering” (Mt. 5:23). The gospel is called the gospel of peace because it leads to peace if truly and heartily put into practice. Just that simple gospel maxim may help us avert so many conflicts and wars – “Judge not and you shall not be judged….The measure with which you measure will be used to measure you. Why look at the speck in your brother’s eye when you miss the plank in your own? You hypocrite! Remove the plank from your own eye first, then you will see clearly to take the speck from your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:1-5). This gospel truth, a simple truth but a basic truth (cf. Mt. 5:19).

Hence this is how St. Paul describes the spiritual warfare. “Finally grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power. Put God’s armor on so as to be able to resist the devil’s tactics. For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness in this world, the spiritual army of evil in the heavens. That is why you must rely on God’s armor, or you will not be able to put up any resistance when the worst happens, or have enough resources to hold your ground…. So stand your ground, with truth buckled round your waist, and integrity for a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagermess to spread the gospel of peace and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to put out the burning arrows of the evil one. And then you must accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the word of God from the Spirit to use as a sword. Pray all the time asking for what you need, praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all the saints; and pray for me to be given an opportunity to open my mouth and speak without fear and give out the mystery of which I am an ambassador in chains; pray that in proclaiming it I may speak as boldly as I ought to.” (Eph. 6:10-20). In our great longings for peace in our country and the world of today, we must ask our heavenly Queen, Mary, to aid us in the work for peace because she is our mother and truly the Mediatrix of all grace. She was the instrument of the birth of God’s beloved Son into our world, Jesus Christ, the very source of grace, peace and reconciliation.