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December 7. To some people, especially those who were alive in 1941, December 7 means Pearl Harbor Day. It is the date that the Japanese attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Two thousand four hundred and three Americans were killed in the surprise attack and 1,178 others were wounded. There was devastating damage done to the US Pacific fleet. In response, the US entered World War 2.

In the aftermath of World War 2, the people of Japan made great strides toward becoming a more peaceful culture. There are many memorials to peace in Japan. At the Fuji Sanctuary near Mt. Fuji, there is an annual gathering of people of many faiths from around the world who come to pray for peace. This is just one example of a Japanese initiative for peace in the world.

Each year on a Sunday close to Dec. 7 at LUCC we use a peace reading from Japan. This is a small way to recognize that while Japan did attack the US, there are significant efforts at pursing peace taking place in Japan. No country or culture is all good or all bad. In an effort to be peacemakers, we affirm those who are working for peace around the world.

I know there are people in other countries who think the US is all about violence and war. Given the many years the US has been at war, the mass shootings that take place here, and the fact that there are more guns than people in the US, it’s understandable how this impression has emerged. This is a very sad stereotype of the US particularly because it contains a measure of truth. I hope that people around the world realize that there are many in the US who are working for peace.

This year at LUCC on Sunday Dec. 6, we read the Mt. Fuji Declaration that was affirmed at the Mt. Fuji Symphony of Peace Prayers Ceremony this past May. The text follows:

As individuals responsible for the future of life on Earth, we hereby declare…

We affirm the divine spark in the heart and mind of every human being and intend to live by its light in every sphere of our existence.

We commit ourselves to fulfilling our shared mission of creating lasting peace on Earth through our ways of living and acting.

We intend to live and act so as to enhance the quality of life and the well-being of all forms of life on the planet, recognizing that all living things in all their diversity are interconnected and are one.

We will continually strive to free the human spirit for deep creativity, and to nurture the transformation necessary to forge a new paradigm in all spheres of human activity, including economics, science, medicine, politics, business, education, religion, the arts, communications and the media.

We shall make it our mission to design, communicate and implement a more spiritual and harmonious civilization—a civilization that enables humankind to realize its inherent potential and advance to the next stage of its material, spiritual, and cultural evolution.

This is a wonderful comprehensive statement for peace. I wonder how we could increase the peace in the US and the world if we chose to begin each day by reciting this pledge to peaceful living?

Think of a time when you felt attacked in some way. How can the experience help you to learn to be more peaceful?

Prayer: Our faith teaches us that all people are created in the Divine image. Thus we know that all people have the capacity to be peaceful. We know that in all cultures and nations and places there are people who are seeking peace. May we endeavor to cultivate peace in ourselves and to encourage peace in others. Amen.

Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to hear Handel’s “Messiah” performed by the Florida Orchestra, the Master Chorale Ensemble, the University of South Florida Chamber Singers, and four guest soloists. There were 36 musicians, 75 singers, and the conductor on stage.   All of them were working together as a seamless whole. The performance was stunning. Several times I had to wipe the tears from my eyes just from the sheer beauty of it.

For the audience to be given such a masterful performance to enjoy, each one of the players, singers, and soloists as well as the conductor, had to perform in a superior way. Each one involved in the concert had to offer his/her best performance for the collective result to be so extraordinary. If one of the soloists had been weak, it would have detracted from the efforts of the others. If some of the singers in the chorus had not been crisp, it would have diminished the result from the whole group. The stunning event required everyone involved giving their all.

As we think about peace this Advent season, there is a lesson in this concert. Peace takes all of us working together. We all have a part to play in creating peace in the world. There are different ways that each of us can contribute to peace. And we are all needed to play our role and do our part. It is important that we do our utmost and give our best to the goal of peace. Then the result will be stunning!

Think of a time when you worked with others to accomplish something significant. How do you feel that you can contribute to the effort to create peace in the world?

Prayer: We are social creatures meant to live and work in community. We need each other to thrive. May we each do our part to help others and to take care of ourselves. May we all work together to create peace. Amen.

Today is the first day of Hanukkah. This is a special Jewish religious festival. It dates back to the second century BCE. The Syrians had taken over Judea and taken possession of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. An altar was built to Zeus and pigs were sacrificed in the Temple. There was a Jewish revolt and the Temple was reclaimed in 165 BCE. The Temple then had to be cleansed and reconsecrated. When it was time to rededicate the Temple, there was only oil for the flame to burn for one day, but the fire lasted 8 days which was enough time to make and consecrate more oil. So, the festival of Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication to commemorate these traditions.

We see that Jews were celebrating Hanukkah long before Jesus; long before Christianity; and long before Christians were celebrating Christmas. There is even a reference in the Gospel of John to Jesus celebrating Hanukkah [John 10:22, Festival of the Dedication]. Of course he celebrated Hanukkah, he was Jewish.

While Jesus is the foundational figure for Christianity, we must remember that Jesus was Jewish. We are even told in the New Testament that Jesus was a rabbi. Therefore, there is absolutely NO place in any expression of Christianity or in any Christian teaching for anti Semitism. To be condemnatory of Judaism in any way is to be unChristian and even anti Christian.

Ok, so there is no room in Christianity for anti-Jewish sentiment because Jesus was Jewish, but what about other religions? Is it within the scope of Christianity to condemn other religions like Buddhism, Islam, or Hinduism? Again, let’s go back to Jesus. Jesus lived in a time when from the Jewish perspective there were basically Jews and “others” who were of other religious and cultural persuasions. Jesus was a Jew. Did he condemn those “others”? There are stories of Jesus healing “others”, feeding “others”, and forgiving “others”. But there are no examples of Jesus condemning the belief systems of the “others”, or condemning the “others” themselves. This shows us that there is no room in Christianity for condemning or attacking other religions or people who are not Christian. The increase in Islamaphobia in the US is decidedly unChristian.

When we think about God’s intention for Wonder-Full peace in the world, we know that there must be peace between people of differing religions. As Catholic theologian Hans Kung tells us, “No peace among the nations without peace among the religions.” All major world religions teach acceptance and tolerance of different religions. All major religions also have extremists who ignore these teachings and foment conflict and contention between religions through disrespect and even violence.

Christianity is a religion of peace. Jesus teaches us to be loving to all people including those of different religions. Because we are Christian, we are compelled to seek peace with people of other religions and no religion. We can start by wishing our Jewish friends a Happy Hanukkah!

Think of a time when you were exposed to an expression of religion other than Christianity. What common ground was there in that experience for you as a Christian?

Prayer: God is beyond all religions and within all religions. May we be true to our religion, Christianity, by loving all people and respecting all religions. This is our calling as followers of Jesus. Amen.

In the recent movie, “The Martian,” there is not much overt religion. At one point, somewhat apologetically, the main character, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) has to resort to using a wooden crucifix to start a fire. It gives a different twist to the idea, “Jesus saves.” But otherwise there is really not much of a religious nature in the movie. Then, Watney faces the most traumatic devastation of the entire movie. I won’t give away any of the details, but at this, the lowest point in the narrative, Watney cries out one word, “God.” It is a moment of ultimate terror. And that is the one word that is said. There could have been other words – the f-word, for instance. But the word used for the nadir of human experience is God.

Whether we are religious or not, there is a human sensibility to something beyond. Something more than. Something greater than we ourselves, yet within us. Humans fundamentally have a connection to a larger reality. And at the height of elation, such as at the birth of a baby, and at the depth of the most devastating tragedy, we intersect with this greater reality. This something more. This mystery within and beyond. And many of us name this God.

As we think of our deep desire for peace, as we become desperate for peace in the face of heinous violence, we know that we must connect this longing with something greater than ourselves yet within us. The moment when we have no choice but to cry out, “God,” is the moment we may find a deeper connection to peace.

Is there a time when your feelings were so intense you felt the power, the mystery, the beyond of God? What was that like for you?

Prayer: While we may cry out to God in the extreme experiences of our lives, we pray that we remember that our connection to the Divine, the power and peace of God, is there all the time. May we learn to trust that connection day in and day out so that we may know greater peace and be agents of peace in the world. Amen.

San Bernardino. Just the mention of the location and we know what we are referring to. A mass shooting. Another mass shooting. There have been at least 355 mass shootings in the US in 2015. That’s more than one a day. It is clearly too late to prevent this from becoming a “thing” because it is already a “thing.” It’s a thing with many causes. A thing with many potential responses. And while there may be differing views on how to address this thing, I think that almost everyone agrees that we want to be rid of this thing. We don’t want to live in a country with a reputation for mass shootings. We don’t want to come to terms with the reality that most of these mass shootings are done by people who seem just like the people we see in the store, or at work, or at a sporting event. We don’t want to feel unsafe.

Doing nothing is not an answer. We must concern ourselves with the causes and conditions that lead to these horrific events. We need to apply our best and brightest capabilities to addressing these problems. And we must do this even though it will take time for implementation to yield results. It won’t be a quick fix in time for the next election cycle. But still, we need to act.

But that is not the end of the story. This is the season of Advent. This is the time we prepare for the celebration of a birth. It is a time to remember that in the worst of times, a baby was born; a person who continues to impact the world in significant ways even over 2000 years after his coming. Who would have expected that baby to have such an effect? We think about it now as God breaking into human history in a surprising way with an unforeseen result. It is something no one could have predicted.

Was that the last of God’s surprises? Do we no longer expect to be astounded by unforeseen events? Will we limit the scope of God’s influence?

While we work for peace in our country and pursue ways to end the mass shootings and all shootings, let’s remember the theme for this Advent season at LUCC: Wonder-Full Peace. Let’s not forget the wonder. The mystery. The awe. The jaw dropping surprise. Breaking in. And changing the game. For good. Peace IS possible.

Take a moment to think about something that has happened that has taken you by surprise. It could be something in society or in your own life. Did you ever expect there would be an African American president in your lifetime? Did you think you would live to see gay marriage?

Prayer: In this season of watching and waiting, may we be open to God’s surprises. May we not limit the scope of the power of Divine Love. May we trust that love to heal the horrible pain suffered by the loved ones of those killed in San Bernardino and of all other victims of violence. Amen.