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by Rev. Fr. Leopold Ratnasekera OMI.,

Secretary to the Oblate Superior General in

Christmas 2003 dawns to a world where global peace is under severe threat from a twin-phenomenon keeping us at bay, namely terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. They are impeding in a serious manner, our desired option for a culture of life and a civilization of love. As humanity crossed the twentieth century stepping into a brand new century and indeed a new millennium, grand were the dreams that sprung up in the inner stirring of its heart.

We all hoped that it would be an earth abounding in peace with cultures of mankind mingling in a new symphony of variety, the guns being stilled and terror vanquished. The dream though premature may still be real if we continue to look to the future horizons filled with a steadfast sense of hope and eagerness, firmly convinced and trusting in man's capability for peace and harmony. Our world is not much different regarding the threats to peace that prevailed in the time of Jesus.

It is urgent that we wean this hallowed religious festival away from mere celebration and solemn ritual, commercialism and superficiality and strive to arrive at its inner core, which is the message and call to peace.

Today we cannot but talk about peace without entering into the frightful landscape of violence and fundamentalism that instills fear and insecurity in the majority of human beings. It has blown into a world-wide phenomenon. In more concrete terms it is incarnated in merciless terrorism and the build up of weaponry of mass-destruction, whether conventional, biological or nuclear. The manufacture, sale, deployment and use of any kind of weapon denies security to mankind.

Indeed, when there is structural violence in the form of protracted and planned onslaught with such violence spiralling into layers of persistent hatred, that sees no injustice or inhumanness in continued destruction, one wonders whether we have lost all sense of humanity and human dignity. The attacks on the twin towers and the pentagon, the continuing stalemate fraught in the middle east and Iraq with a helpless UN looking bewildered, the memories of the atrocities of war and destruction in Afghanistan, the conflict in the region of Jammu and Kashmir together with what has recently happened in some African countries, may lead some to a sense of utter despair about any kind of world peace possible in the near future.

To this litany we must add other forms of violence which include domestic violence, violence against women, children and minors, sexual abuse of all kinds and demand of ransom. The liberation struggles that are wrongly oriented in the direction of sustained and programmed forms of military strategy seem to end up against the wall, which only delays solution to problems and leave the defenceless masses in abject suffering and pain.

Should we also not feel uncomfortable with religious fundamentalism that abuses the basic tenets of true religion that is for peace, forgiveness and respect? Religious fundamentalism as both secular and history of religions have demonstrated, has been and would be an utter sign of contradiction - contradiction of religion and spirituality. No form of violence can be a means to spirituality, except as Mahatma Gandhi said, the violence to one-self in self-mastery and discipline. It could be the only violence that can emerge from a right conscience that commands people to be good.

The reality of insecurity, conflict and violence is made more dramatic and disturbing, because of mass media communication that has become a powerful newscaster in modern day. The visual media can make this chaos and violence look so real and frightening to people watching their TV screens. Today we watch an ongoing war on TV, just like any other serialized movie on crime. This TV culture more than the cinema, infuses an apathy that blind us to the seriousness of violence. We have got used to see rape, murder, looting, arson and suicide, things that usually should grip us with distaste and fear.

The Christmas story too unfolds in an atmosphere of violence, although those who are intimately associated with it as is the child with his parents, the three wise men and the shepherds are symbols of peace and serenity. There is the mighty Herod who craftily plans to murder the innocent child and indeed orders the massacre of infants to make sure he succeeds in his plan to do away with the one whom he feels is a threat to his power and position.

The child of Christmas is for a long time under threat of death and forced to flee as a refugee. Indeed, it would culminate in the unjust condemnation and the violent death inflicted on him at Calvary thirty three years hence. The truth of true religion Jesus would proclaim, the inversion of values he condemns in the secular mentality and the challenges he hurls both to the temple of Jerusalem for profaning the sacred and the crown of Rome for subjugating the powerless by oppression, lead to hatred and rage in the seats of powers that be.

Peace can spring only from justice in society, respect for human dignity and ensuring of human rights. Life has to be respected for the mystery and wonder it contains. Its sacredness and inviolability are essential to ensure peace. Violence to life is always a threat to peace. We have to wage war on all forces that cripple and are a danger to life from its moment of conception to its natural end, if we are serious about our task to defend life.

Hence, there cannot be peace in a world of abortion, euthanasia and unethical genetic engineering since these are but sequences in the culture of death where man has lost his place as the measure of value and justice. There cannot be peace in a world where child-brigades are trained for war. There cannot be peace in a world where responsible parenthood is not in vogue, family life degraded and marital infidelity abounds. Peace will never see the day in a world system that is uni-polar where the poor continue to remain helpless and dependent both economically and politically.

A country cannot be at peace if in a spirit of consensus and through open dialogue, there is a strategy to give-and-take and let go a little for the sake of a greater and more comprehensive good. The spirit of divisiveness is the greatest enemy of peace and reconciliation.

Peace is a mystery to be reflected on, contemplated, desired and deserved. It is no ones monopoly, but everyones common treasure to be shared. We must all become artisans of peace and achieve it together. After having won it, ensure it together. The prince of peace born today became a victim of hatred and violence, but on that cross he arrested the violence of sin, where with open arms he embraced the entire world close to his heart. He became a victim for peace.

The innocent babe of Bethlehem, innocent as any other infant born to any mother, has to pay the price of peace on our behalf with his death. From birth to death and finally on to the glory of Resurrection Jesus became the icon of reconciliation and the hope for peace to our world. Paul of Tarsus, the greatest missionary of early Christianity took this message of unity to all the big city-centres of the Roman Empire, Corinth, Galatia and Rome itself. According to his philosophy, there is to be no discrimination between Jews and non-Jews, the slaves and the free citizens, not even between and woman; therefore no social conflict on any count, be it religious, political, cultural or even gender.

No wonder, at the Last Supper he had with his chosen disciples, Jesus could say: Fear not, I have overcome the world Peace I leave with you, My peace I give and not as the world gives do I give it to you. It was a mysterious declaration of Peace. Even on the first Christmas night, it was a mystery of Peace that was in-acted in the city of Bethlehem as the chorus of the angels rang out with the Peace-Song Glory to God on high and Peace on earth to people of good will. The sharers of that mystery were the parents of Jesus, the wise men who travelled under the guidance of a mysterious star as were the simple shepherds to whom went the news of the birth of the child.

The shepherds found their lamb, as it is said and the wise men their wisdom. Thus loving families of humanity, the wise on earth, the working class, imbued with higher and spiritual ideals to inspire us all, have each their share as partners and elements of which is at the core of Christmas. This solidarity could well serve as a new paradigm for peace. Let the Prince of peace rise in our horizon. May a humanity at peace with itself be a blessing on earth!

STONE 'N' STRING

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