PASTORAL AND LITURGICAL SUGGESTIONS

In today’s gospel, we will hear two short stories. In chapter four of the gospel of Saint Mark, Jesus talks about his method. He tells his disciples stories to strengthen their faith and confidence in his non-violence philosophy. He hopes that his disciples will act with the same ample confidence he sows on his path.

In today’s celebration, we connect this idea to an invitation Pax Christi gives you. In a few weeks, the negotiations for the first international Arms Trade Treaty will come to an end. For several years, peace movements all over the world have lobbied for a broad and strong treaty.

It’s quite clear: the fewer weapons, the more safety there is in the world. The incredible amount of money, time, and energy that are spent on weapons and arms trade would be of better service if it goes to projects that are helpful to people.

Readings of the 11th Sunday B

Homily

It’s a pity that the United States, Russia, and China will not participate in this. And that the new arms trade treaty will not be as broad and as strong as we wish it should be. These are certain.

There are reasons enough to doubt whether all our actions will have any effort. We are such a very small David, fighting against very tall Goliath. Those who make and sell weapons are so extremely powerful! It seems like you can never win against them. Indeed, you can look at it this way.

Luckily, there is another way of looking at the situation. Today’s gospel invites us to believe in the value of small beginnings; the power of the mustard seed. Jesus invites us to start from that faith, from that confidence that this is the only way to make the Kingdom of God grow. Justice and peace, friendship and solidarity – a world in which God is obeyed, in favour of the joy and happiness of mankind – can only be realized that way. The word of God – each word that stimulates faith and confidence – is sown somewhere. And each time it bears fruit.

Every beginning is small. This is how it went in the banishment of landmines and cluster munitions. Someone had an idea. Others picked it up. A Peace Week was organized on this subject, in Belgium, in Austria. And the ball was set rolling… No, not all landmines have gone, but the result is not that small! To learn more about these two actions, at the end of this celebration there will be a report explaining it in short. In that same report you will find more information about today’s campaign for a strong and broad international arms trade treaty. To reintegrate today’s sentiment: less weapons in the world means more wellbeing and more money for things that this world really needs.

Vaclav Havel once said, “Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well. It is the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out”. We will soon know what the short term results of our actions will be. But in the long term? We will not know for sure. But we know that what we are doing makes sense. We hope that the next generations and those who now live in misery will be better because of it. And that the Kingdom of God may come into this world today.

Prayers of intercession

For those, in the days passed, who have been killed by the use of weapons [a moment of silence], and for those who mourn because of their loved ones’ death [a moment of silence]. Let us pray.

For perseverance for those who at the highest levels strive for a strong and broad international Arms Trade Treaty. Let us pray.

For good cooperation amongst people belonging to different religions and philosophies, working for justice and peace, and for a world with many less weapons. Let us pray.

For parents, educators, and teachers, who teach young people to believe in the power of active non-violence. Let us pray.

And for ourselves, not for much faith, but for a bit of faith, just enough to do today what we can do today, in favour of a better world for anyone. Let us pray.

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