Back in 1870, a woman named Julia Ward Howe was distraught about the effects of WAR, violence and discord in our United States. She wrote: “Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking of carnage, seeking caresses & applause. Our children shall NOT be taken from us, to unlearn all that we have taught them about charity, mercy & patience.” Strong words from a very determined mom. Now, let me share a real-life story in Julia Howe’s spirit about making peace & living in peace with others.                          

There is a family who, back in the last century made a list of people to invite to a daughter’s wedding. Exactly 100 people would be invited; the list had 90 names on 1 side of a piece of paper, & 10 on the back. And guess what happened? The 10 people whose names were on the back of the page NEVER GOT MAILED THEIR INVITATION!  It was an honest mistake, but when those who’d received invitations asked others if  they had received their invites & were they going, as you might imagine: upset!  It didn’t help that all 10 on the back of the page represented one entire branch of the family. For over 40 years, they boycotted one another’s family’s baptisms, communions, confirmations, & yes, weddings. It was a multi-generation hurt, with a grudge to match. And for what? What good did the grudges accomplish?

Years later, a family matriarch was getting ready to leave Planet Earth & go home to  God. She invited her family to her bedside: these were her blood, from varying generations, and she gave them a project to work on. She said, “You know, some in our family no longer speak with us, because they were so hurt many years ago. I want YOU  to make peace with them: make our family united again, & stop this awful sadness and division.” Soon after, the peace makers went to work: reaching out in love, & having coffee with them in the familiar places we caller diners, where coffee flows all day! Lots of tears were shed for the losses they ALL suffered because of this grudge-holding. Even in 2024, surrounded by war and conflict, every one of us understands that making and keeping peace is NOT easy: it’s hard work!

I find a key point of connection between that story & Jesus’ farewell message, noticeably different from George Washington’s “Farewell Address.” Jesus loves his disciples enough to tell them the truth: no sugar-coating, and no false hopes. Jesus wants us all to know that the world will try to seduce us & sucker us into selfishness, words and actions that will take us away from God & others. Question: have you ever met a child who’s well past the terrible two’s but he or she is stamping their feet or out of control? Now, have you ever met an adult who’s also WELL past the terrible 2s but just explodes at times? How hard it is for them to hear that “it’s NOT all about them,” that the world doesn’t revolve around them, & that there’s a whole universe here!

So, there’s a task Jesus gives US; It’s very specific, & it could take the rest of our lives.  Jesus wants disciples who’ll PRACTICE true unity, & not just TALK about being one in heart. Aren’t we blessed to have Jesus, who gave us the Our Father, which is filled with the message of peace & reconciliation, where WE promise 2make peace with others? As we end our reflection this morning, just think with me about the opening words of the Prayer of St. Francis, where we actually ask Jesus: “Make me a channel of your peace.” What a wonderful gift to give to ourselves & others,  in living memory & to honor our Risen & Ascended Savior. Blessed be God forever.