Brian’s Reflection: Tuesday, May 29, 2007


The basic problems facing the world today
are not susceptible to a military solution.

- President John F. Kennedy, born on
this day, 1917 (He would have been
90 today.)


When Judas and the soldiers arrived in the garden to arrest Jesus, Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, the High Priest’s servant, with his sword. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away. He healed the man’s ear. Before Pilate, Jesus reminded everyone that His Kingdom was not of this World. Jesus understood that the basic problems of the World, then and today, are not susceptible to a military solution. Not without purpose did He teach His followers to pray, “Thy kingdom come”. And not without purpose did he stand silent before Pilate, before the soldiers who mocked and beat Him. After He was raised from the dead, He greeted His disciples with the words “Peace be with you”.

Peoples and leaders are often faced with the stink of war, with the taunt to use military might, with the temptation to think that military force will solve problems, with the seeming impossibility of avoiding war.

God, however, does not want or condone war, on any level, by anyone. I feel and think theologically very strongly about this. Nor does God permit His/Her name to be co-opted in the support of war. To dare to enlist God on the side of war, no matter how much you/we may think it “justified”, is to blaspheme. Jesus did not bless the makers of war, only the makers of peace.

John Kennedy had to deal with the World’s military madness. Perhaps no leader has been exempt. But I believe his quoted words are correct. Before anything else, Christians are called to build, with God, the Peaceable Kingdom. That God’s will may be “done on Earth as in Heaven”. The basic problems facing the World today - as ever - can only be solved by respecting the dignity of every human being (baptismal vows) and serving in love.

Attempts at “military solution” can only be a pathetic stopgap. The work of human problemsolving is the work of that which God loves - a broken and contrite heart.

Brian+