During the Church year, we journey through the Sermon on the Mount. We hear Jesus say, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” What Jesus calls us to look at is not the letter of the Law, but what is at the heart of the matter. Our actions arise from the movements in our heart, and so we need to change our hearts if we are to avoid acting in an evil manner.
Jesus goes from the exterior action to what lies inside of us. The commandment says, “You shall not kill. … But I say to you whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. … If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” What can lead to murder is anger that is allowed to seethe and grow until it bursts forth into hurting, even killing another.
Reconciliation is crucial. Even if the other person does not forgive us, God forgives us if we seek to be reconciled. If the wrong has been done to us, often we need to ask God to help us to forgive others. If we are unable to forgive, the hurt and anger often act as a weight that burdens us and keeps us from being free.
Pope Francis visits war-torn countries
A few weeks ago, Pope Francis visited both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. Both countries have been plagued by war and unrest. In the eastern part of the DRC, war has gone on for some 25 years as various militias have fought to gain control of the mineral riches that are part of our cellphones and other electronic equipment. It is estimated that nearly 3 million people have been killed and millions more displaced. The Holy Father came to bring a message of peace and reconciliation, and to tell the people that they are not forgotten.
In the DRC, Pope Francis met with a number of people who had been caught up in the violence to listen to their stories and to pray with them for peace and healing.
One was a woman who as a young girl watched her parents and siblings be murdered before her eyes. The militia leader then gave her the knife that killed them and told her to give it to the DRC military as a sign of what would be done to them.
The second was a fellow who, as a boy, watched his father and an uncle be hacked to death by a machete and his mother be taken away. He has never seen his mother again.
The third was a young woman who was taken as a sex slave by a militia leader. She was raped time and again, but finally managed to escape after a year and a half. On her back were the twins that she bore as a result of the rape.
The first woman took the knife that had killed her family and laid it at the foot of the cross as she forgave the murderers.
The fellow took a machete like the one that had massacred his father and uncle, and he laid it at the foot of the cross in forgiveness of what had been done to his family.
The second woman took a mat, like the one on which she was repeatedly raped, and placed it at the foot of the cross in forgiveness of the one who had so brutally abused her.
With tears in his eyes, Pope Francis blessed each one.
African believers lead the way
This is the power of the cross. This is following Jesus, who on the cross called out, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Once again, our African brothers and sisters have shown us in the West that the power of the cross can bring about forgiveness and even reconciliation. They showed this in South Africa and in Rwanda.
Will we in the West learn from them? Will we help to bring about peace in their countries? Will we bring about peace in our own country? Will we believe what we pray during Holy Week: “Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.”
Jesuit Father John Michalowski is the parochial vicar at St. Peter Parish in Charlotte.