Our Class embedded Padre sends this Christmas message you may find interesting. It has also been circulated within the RAR Association:

May we contribute to peace on earth this Christmas.

Being asked to offer a Christmas reflection as the Padre is a delight, causing me to reach into the most fundamental underpinnings of my faith.  I certainly want to offer my love and blessings on all of you and your families that you may enjoy Love, Joy and Peace at this time. I also want to reflect on matters today that might affect us as Veterans, and how the essential works and words of Jesus might help us respond to life today.

Christmas for me is about being grateful for how God entered into history in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, in the midst of peoples who longed for peace.  Jesus came to and bring peace, through love, integrity and justice. 

This year in Australia, most could expect to have a peaceful and joyous Christmas, but for some it presents challenges when family members are estranged, isolated, or not present for family gatherings common at this time. Moreover in Lebanon, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, and in Ukraine, there is no peace and unimaginable suffering continues.

Like many readers, I have spent most of my life, as a peacemaker, deployed to various conflicts, as well as counselling many who struggle at home.  I know that it’s not only important that we pray for peace, but we must actively do something practical about promoting peace, and preventing discord, both at home and abroad.

In most of the seven overseas conflicts I was deployed in, I didn’t carry, or use a weapon, but I became present to belligerents, listened, and engaged in dialogue. I also called out their bad behaviour, knowing how facing the truth can set us free. 

True peace can come when we come together and implore those in conflict to act justly, and act with integrity. The most effective way in achieving peace involves a third party becoming present.  Belligerents become aware that others are watching them and they may moderate their behaviour because of our presence, and dialogue. A moderator can help angry people to find solutions and can facilitate communication.

In both times I served in the Holy land, it was so obvious to me that God came among us in the person of Jesus to witness to a new way of living that was characterised by loving our neighbours. Jesus did that in practical ways by helping and caring for peoples of all races and religions, and by promoting forgiveness. Many people at home and abroad, still haven’t got that basic message. We must love our neighbours.

Jesus’ way of approaching conflict situations avoids simplistic polarised positioning. It is not helpful to adopt a dualistic stance by saying, for example, that I support Mum, or I support Dad, or that I support Israel or I support Palestine. A third approach – a non-dual approach – is possible.  A better stance is to say “I support peace, I support justice, I support caring for those that are suffering. I reject the use of violence. I appeal for exploration of solutions”. 

In practical terms what can we do? 

Internationally, this Christmas we can support those that are suffering by making financial gifts to those charities, like Caritas, that are assisting the millions of people displaced from their homes, wounded, sick and starving, and living under plastic sheets in a freezing winter. We should also be asking our politicians, as I have done already, to be working in bi-partisan ways to see these conflicts brought to a close, by proactive diplomacy to promote peace, and by taking measures to stop the flow of weapons of massive destruction to the belligerent combatants. War crimes of monstrous proportions are being committed by all combatant groups. Integrity demands that we call them out. There is no military solution possible. No side can win by trying to wipe out the other. Ceasefire and third-party intervention is necessary now.  

We must also be peacemakers here. When conflict arises in our families or communities, it certainly can be more comfortable to avoid getting involved, or to take sides. But the Christian imperative is that we should get involved, in promoting peace, de-escalating disputes, and searching for solutions.  Integrity and authenticity as a Christian demand that we act to resolve differences. Some might say, “well that would require a miracle!”  My life experience attests that Jesus can do that too. We just need faith, good intention and loving disposition. If you haven’t read what Jesus did and said, please do so. I try to follow him in what I do and say. It is the formula for a happy and purposeful life.

And finally, as Jesus and I am oft to say, “may peace be with you”. And make peace radiate from your soul. May your Christmas offering, and your gratitude to God, be expressed this Christmas by some practical act of love, following the example of the Prince of Peace, Jesus our Lord. May God  bless you all. 

Your Padre, Gary