As Christian churches, do we know how to proclaim peace? Yes, I suppose, maybe
The superlative William Shakespeare in Hamlet wrote:‘ Love all, believe few, and harm none’. For many Shakespeare is, to this day, a teacher of life... and so is he for me. Reading these words, I recognised a profound theological lesson:‘ Love everyone’( see for example: Mark 12:31; John 3:16 – 17),‘ believe a few’( Proverbs 3:5. And I would add:‘ believe in God’ s Word and His promises, believe in the teachings of Jesus, and believe in the whispers of the Holy Spirit who guides you through life’),‘ and do no evil to anyone’( see for example: Exodus 20:13; Luke 22:50 – 51; Romans 12:17). As I ironically suggested with the title, in recent years within our congregations there has been a resurgence of talk about‘ peace’. Not as an abstract concept, but as a serious theological, ethical and faith problem. What does it mean to proclaim the Gospel? What do we have to say as Churches? Do we have something to say? Yes, we have something to say, and we want to affirm that violence is not the solution and that peace is to be sought without weapons. I know my opinion for some is an‘ unpopular opinion’. But I cannot stop asking myself: as a person of faith and as a minister of religion, what can I do against this escalation of hatred and death? I am a Waldensian pastor in Italy... in little Italy there are many military bases; from north to south, from east to west( I live in Riesi and have two within a few kilometres). In an armed territory where weapons are so widespread, how can I successfully preach peace? When war‘ is in the air’, what words can I choose to proclaim the Gospel?... but above all, how can I use the word‘ peace’ without someone shouting at me:‘ hypocrite, you speak because you do not know what it is like to live in a country where war is fought in the streets of your city!’ In Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare wrote another truth:‘ All men know how to give counsel and comfort to the sorrow they do not feel’. This is often true, but the Bible reminds us:‘ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, that by the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted by God, we may comfort those who are in any affliction’( 2 Corinthians 1:3 – 4). In this I believe, in this I have faith, in this I have hope. I cannot( no-one can) fully understand and experience another person’ s pain and suffering. But God can! God consoles us and gives us the words and gestures to console‘ those who are in any affliction’. Proclaiming peace, opposing violence, weapons and revenge is not easy. But as a believer who puts himself at the service of God, I abandon myself to the hope that a different world is possible... In the meantime, Lord, please, together with my sisters and brothers in Christ, make me an instrument of your project of peace between peoples!
Giovanni Bernardini
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