It has been a little more than 6 months since Hamas attacked innocent Israelis in their homes on a peaceful Saturday morning on October 7th. Israel retaliated and is working to remove Hamas from Gaza, but the number of deaths from this effort is staggering. Many are innocent bystanders including children. The backlash has given rise to Pro-Palestinian protests across the world countered in many cases by Pro-Israel protests. These protests have been violent at times, especially on college campuses throughout the US where jewish students have been threatened and now live in fear of their own safety. Are our children being taught to hate Israel and jews in general in our colleges? The rhetoric is rising to the point at Columbia University in NY where classes are being held virtually for the safety of the students.
Indoctrination in US Universities and Colleges
A growing trend in the US has been the indoctrination of radical views held by many professors in US universities and colleges to their students. Academia has always had a leaning towards the left and liberalism, but we are seeing many instances of professors and school leadership supporting and allowing hate speech that leads to violence on their campuses. Conservative speakers are often canceled, and their presentations allowed to be disrupted to the point where the speaker walks away. Granted, we live in a very polarized society today, but how do college level students get to the point where their protests cross the line and become violent riots against the authorities and those that disagree with them? I believe the answer is in the radical views held by too many professors and members of the institution’s leadership. The situation is spiraling out of control, and there doesn’t appear to be any immediate solution. There is no room for people who have other views and absolutely no discussion allowed by those who do not agree with the protestors. Our society in general, especially our colleges and universities, are teaching our kids to hate.
Blessed are the peacemakers …….
Where are the peacemakers? Why are these “protests” being allowed to get to the point where people are threatened and riots ensue? What happened to our ability to speak our views without being persecuted for them? We have gone from our schools preaching “make love not war” in the 60s and 70s, to “from the river to the sea” calling for the elimination of Israel and jews today. These “protests” have moved to the streets of large cities, and have shut down critical roadways at the Golden Gate Bridge, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, and the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC. These disruptions heighten the anger amongst the people and put others at risk including members of the local police and fire departments.
There are not enough efforts focusing on peace either in the war itself, or for the growing number of violent protests. We have wars that have unspeakable atrocities being committed on all sides. These wars need to end NOW! Division based on race, sexual preferences, politics, and many other biases dominate in the US. I believe the very large majority of the people in the US do not see color, sexual preference, political parties, etc. We are allowing the tail to wag the dog by allowing the fringe elements in society to dictate the conversation and this needs to end NOW as well.
When Jesus appears as the Risen Christ to His apostles, His first words are “Peace be with you” (John 20:19):
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples* were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Paul tells us in his letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 12:14): Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Psalm 37:37: Observe the person of integrity and mark the upright; because there is a future for a man of peace.
James 3:18: And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.
Romans 14:19: Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another.
Matthew 5:9: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Into a world of violence and hate, Jesus sends us as peacemakers (Rick Ezell, Lifeway). Let’s do that.
What is a Peacemaker?
A peacemaker is someone who actively works to reconcile themselves to God and to others. This means we actively work for peace wherever we are. This does not mean we are to be passive as Jesus was never passive. We should not be focused on avoiding contention or conflict as that is where peace is sorely needed. If you believe that God is in everything and always present, then it makes sense that whatever we encounter in life is part of God’s plan. This includes difficulties and suffering. We can’t shy away from them, we must confront them and look for the message that God is giving us during these difficult times. The most important aspect is to stand firm in your beliefs, and live the gospel as this is how we can help others find God.
To be a peacemaker, you first need to be at peace with yourself and God. If you’re not, then this is where you need to focus initially. It’s very difficult to be a peacemaker when you yourself are not at peace. Jesus needs us to bring about peace. I have written many times about the divisiveness in today’s world and Jesus needs us to be Him in the world today. When we have college aged kids calling for the elimination of a country and a race, we need to act. As Catholics, we cannot continue to stand idly by and watch our kids be drawn down into the hate that is predominant in society today.
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Peace
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