By Fr. Glenn Jones:
One of the best-known verses in the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes is: “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Or, for a more flippant contemporary phrase, “Wash. Rinse. Repeat.”
As we’ve watched the tragic events occurring in Israel unfold over the last week or so, we who are a bit older can’t help thinking: “Huh; I’ve seen THIS movie before.” Scale can be different, methods somewhat varied, but it seems an unending cycle of: War. Tense ceasefire. Rearm. Wash, rinse, repeat. Except this perennial cycle leads to death, destruction, misery, disease, depravity … as all wars do. Only in sci-fi do we have nice clean computer-calculated wars and people calmly and willingly walking into antiseptic disintegration chambers. No fuss, no muss.
Much to the world’s horror, disintegration chambers have existed, not using computers but rather poison gas and ovens in Hitler’s “final solution”. The world in shock at images of unimagined horror vowed “Never again!!” But “what has been is what will be … there is nothing new under the sun.” Again we hear not only calls for genocide, and of genocide of the same people who suffered it near totally less than a hundred years ago. But, not to be outdone, calls ring out to that people’s allies to totally eliminate their foes. Thus demonization: reduce one’s adversary to the level of the subhuman and then it becomes so much easier to dismiss, and even endorse, carnage wrought.
Tragically, with hatreds running not only for generations but for millennia, it often does seem that Ecclesiastes is right: what is, will be. Hatred and vengeance tap a seemingly boundless reservoir of energy and motivation. But where is the good that hatred and vengeance do? And those who seek the destruction of the other: do they think utopia is reached even if their macabre goal is realized? Or, will there rather simply be another “enemy” who must be eliminated? Wash, rinse, repeat. Ah, the futility of it all is so tragic—children born and raised to themselves be mown down by the same age-old scythe of hooded death. Endless streams of time, talent and treasure that could have been directed towards the good lost in ceaseless conflict.
No, perhaps there is nothing new under the sun, but there IS something new under the Son. When we think about perpetual cyclic conflicts, of feuds, of burning grudges, can we not realize the wisdom of Jesus and of other philosophers of the indispensability of forgiveness to pave a lasting road to peace. Hatred kills, both literally and spiritually; one must call upon moral courage to let umbrage and hatred dissipate for a better, infinitely worthier goal.
Certainly among nations and whole peoples as we see in the Middle East and in many parts of the world such a path will not be easy to strike, but when it comes to individual action, the ability and impetus lay with each of us. Our choice is often between continuing to assuage pride and a personal (often very biased) sense of justice, or to drain the venom from anger’s wound, seeking greater tranquility in peace and rising above the fray.
After all, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy … Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:7, 9 ) To we who are Christian: Do we actually believe and trust in the words of Our Lord, or not? Are we willing to lay aside anger, resentment, offense, as He commands, or not? As with many things, it is much easier to say than to do …. to talk the talk rather than to walk the walk. But in conscience’ ear rings His question: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? … You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (Luke 6:46, John 15:14)
Are we willing to give up the penny of pride for the pound of peace; in fact, for the whole treasury of God’s grace? What a poor transaction it is to hold onto useless hate and resentment when the gold peace and joy of amity lay at our feet and within our grasp.
No, never say never. Never believe that the ugliness and horrors of war and conflict are totally eradicated. Yet, never say never that peace is not within the reach of the world … for, as the archangel proclaimed, and as Jesus affirmed in His ministry, nothing will be impossible with God. (re. Luke 1:37, 18:27)
We end today with a few of very many encouragements of wisdom concerning peace:
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling. (Proverbs 20:3)
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32)
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (Ephesians 4:32-5:1)