Restraint over escalation, negotiation over destruction

The Easter Season is upon us, the time when we not only celebrate the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but when we also look forward to and pray for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit to come upon us in new and powerful ways at Pentecost. 

We need the Holy Spirit in many ways. Our province needs the Holy Spirit as we discern our new leadership in June. Our country needs the Holy Spirit so that we treat immigrants and other nations with respect and dignity. Our nation has drifted off course in some ways. ICE agents are mandated to arrest 3,000 immigrants a day. As I write this article, we are currently spending one billion dollars a day on the war in Iran. I doubt that those decisions are guided by the Holy Spirit. 

I believe that the Holy Spirit is truly given to us. The problem is that there are so many other voices in my head and in my surroundings that I don’t always notice the Holy Spirit’s nudges. 

As we live our Precious Blood spirituality, we are called to hear the “cry of the blood.” We need the Holy Spirit to embolden us to give us a voice to respond to the cry. This is the time to witness. As the blood of an innocent person calls out, God hears it. Do we? When we listen to the sound of the blood, do we find our voice? 

As a baptized individual, you and I are commissioned as prophets — which means to be a speaker of God’s truth. The prophetic word is not our own. The prophetic word is the word of God given to us by God. I believe we are called to be the catalyst for the conversion of the world.  

Courageous citizens accept responsibility for our nation’s future. Some topics may feel complex or distant, and I sympathize with anyone who worries that their opinion won’t make an impact on these matters. Entering productive arguments with our fellow Americans might not change our leaders’ decisions, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t action. Others will recognize that we’re taking ownership of our nation’s shared problems, and they’ll start to do the same. When we stand on the strategies of courageous citizenship in our discussions, our impact will only multiply. 

There is a contagion of violence in the world; it’s spreading like a disease. But grace is also contagious. An act of kindness inspires another act of kindness. A random smile is exchanged for an opened door. Helping someone carry their laundry or groceries makes them nicer. Randomly paying someone’s bill in the car behind you in the drive-through invites them to pay it forward. Grace creates grace. Love rubs off on those who are loved. 

If we are true disciples of Christ, we cannot use language that echoes threat and triumphalism rather than reconciliation and restraint. 

Let’s pray for leaders everywhere that they may choose restraint over escalation and negotiation over destruction. And let us pray for ourselves that we do not retreat into indifference or cold analysis but allow our hearts to be converted.  

It takes great courage and faith to speak truth to power. But isn’t that what we are called to do with the help of the Holy Spirit? 

Fr. Ron Will, C.PP.S. 
Provincial Councilor