THE TEXT OF A HOMILY DELIVERED AT THE PRAYER PILGRIMAGE FOR PEACE, HELD ON 28TH DECEMBER, 2024 AT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHEDRAL, GBOKO, BY REV. FR. MARCELLINUS WENDE, CHANCELLOR, CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF GBOKO
Introduction
Dearly beloved in Christ,
Today we are gathered here once again as a family of God in Tiv land under the auspices of the Catholic Dioceses of Makurdi, Gboko and Katsina-Ala supported by fellow Christian prelates and our respected Muslim leaders united in our aspirations for peace to offer our supplications to God. This is a rich tradition which was handed down to us by the first indigenous Bishop of the then Makurdi Diocese, Late Most Rev Athanasius Atule USUH. This all important event which is a sign of our collective hope and pledge for peace to return to our communities gathers all the sons and daughters of Tiv nation for the celebration of the Eucharistic banquet, a meal that unites us rather than divide. It is also aimed at a round table discussion of the challenges faced in our land which threaten our peace and how we can collectively navigate these challenges for a peaceful society.
The Quest for Peace
Peace is a vital component of human wellbeing. It is the foundation upon which individuals, communities, and nations can build a just and better future. Peace promotes social cohesion, economic development, and environmental sustainability. The quest for peace in the world is a timeless and universal pursuit that has captivated humanity for centuries. Despite the many advancements and achievements in various fields, peace remains an elusive dream for many individuals, communities, and nations such as ours. Throughout history, humanity has witnessed countless conflicts, wars, and violent struggles that have resulted in immeasurable human suffering, destruction, and loss of lives. The devastating consequences of these conflicts have left deep scars on the human psyche, making the quest for peace an even more pressing and urgent imperative.
The quest for peace in the world is a complex and on-going challenge that requires the collective efforts of individuals, religions, organizations, and governments. While there are many obstacles to peace, there are also many reasons to be hopeful. One of these reasons and indeed the most important of all is the fact that “God is with us.”
This is why the prophet Isaiah in the first reading gives the people of Israel hope of peace. According to him, “In days to come, the mountain of the Lord shall be established as the highest mountain, and all the nations shall stream to it.” This prophecy is contained in 1st Isaiah which was written around 740 to 700 BCE, a period of time when the people of Israel were faced with numerous conflicts and wars that threatened their entire existence as a nation. The prophet therefore announce to them, God’s plan of lasting peace in their land. “He says “The Lord shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into prowling hooks (Isaiah 2:4). This transformation of instruments of war into tools of cultivation signifies the end of conflict and the fostering of life-giving work. It is a call to turn our efforts from destruction to construction, from division to unity.
Isaiah’s prophecy, in the light of Tiv land, is an invitation to dream of a Tiv land where people iron out their differences through a sincere communication with one another and where resources will be invested in the pursuit of development, not strife. It is an assurance that when we walk up to the mountain of the Lord which is the highest of all mountains, despite the conflicts and crises we encounter in Tiv land presently, recent among them is the attack on Anwase community which has left many dead, our continuous prayers to God which have yielded fruits over the years will achieve absolute peace for us subsequently.
Hope in Action
Although, the prophet Isaiah promises hope to the people of Israel, this promise is accompanied by a condition namely, to walk in the Lord. To be at peace means to know God, to love and serve Him, our quest for peace must therefore be reflected in our actions, as people walking in the Lord. Consequently, St James in the second reading explains what it means to walk in the Lord. He says if a man or woman claims to be wise, then they should lead good lives and avoid bitterness of jealousy, or self-seeking ambitions, for the wisdom that comes from above is full of compassion, and shows itself by doing good, nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.
A critical reflection upon the history of the world and even our Tiv community reveals how often that “right relationship” has been compromised, diminished, fractured, and even prevented due to the choices that people and communities and nations have made. Those choices are concessions to evil and sin: hatred, selfishness and greed, preferences for power and domination over others. They stand in opposition to God’s will. Those choices, as they steadily increase and overtake people and communities and nations, are what make war and insecurity possible. As war prevails, peace becomes elusive and slips from human grasp. Evil begets evil. War begets war. Rationalizations and justifications for war, beget more rationalizations, more excuses for the absence of peace. Injustice lives and thrives where peace does not. Human history and our dear Tiv land has witnessed this dynamic too many times to count.
Reflecting on the factors that contribute to the destruction of peace, Mother Theresa, once said, “Let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us rather use love and compassion … let us radiate peace … and extinguish in the world and in the hearts of all men, all hatred and love for power” for “if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to one another.” That is the “right relationship;” belonging to one another in Christ Jesus, that alone leads to peace.
Dialogue not war
Dialogue is a crucial component of conflict resolution. To accept and enter into dialogue does not in any way make one weak, it only manifests one’s strength, and the image of God in them. God Himself calls humanity to dialogue with Him. He says in the book of Isaiah, “come let us reason…” (Is. 1:18). When Adam lost his peace by sinning against God, called him to dialogue, so was the case of Cain. When Abraham had issues with his brother Lot, he called Lot for a dialogue, which ended in peace, (Gen. 13:8-13).
In his homily on 1st September, 2013, the Holy Father, Pope Francis talking about the importance of dialogue in the pursuit of peace said and I quote, “…it is neither a culture of confrontation nor a culture of conflict which builds harmony within and between peoples, but rather a culture of encounter and a culture of dialogue, this is the only way to peace.” The culture of confrontation and conflict is a serious threat to peace in our land. Individuals must learn to dialogue with each other, the government must learn to dialogue with its citizens and vice versa. Jesus recommends dialogue when he says, “so if you are about to offer your gift at the altar and you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother” (Matt. 5:23-24), He continues in Verse 25, where he says avoid being taken to the judge, this may be worse for you. So, why not settle the quarrel as soon as it begins? We must not allow the sunset to meet us still angry (Eph. 4:26).
The Beatitudes: Blueprint for Peace Matthew 5:1-12
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines the Beatitudes as those radical paradigms of blessedness. Of the many, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9), explicitly speaks to our theme.
Peacemaking, in the Beatitudes, is not just the absence of conflict but the proactive pursuit of harmony and justice. It would involve addressing the roots of discord, advocating for the marginalized, and embodying the love of Christ in all interactions.
Together, the Beatitudes are a path to peace, for the poverty of spirit births humility, which reduces proud conflicts; mourning over injustices builds empathy and makes one yearn for a change in status quo; meekness tames aggression into gentle interaction.
✔️Hunger and thirst for righteousness drive the pursuit of justice.
✔️Mercy encourages forgiveness, thereby healing relationships.
✔️Purity of heart aligns intentions with God’s will.
✔️Persecution for righteousness, when endured, steels resolve in the face of adversity.
Applying these principles in our context requires commitment to personal transformation and societal reform. This calls for both leaders and citizens to possess these virtues as a means of providing an enabling environment where peace can thrive.
The Nature of Peace
In his encyclical Pacem, Dei Munus Pulcherrimum written in 1920, Pope Benedict XV refers to peace as “the beautiful gift of God,” “the precious inheritance of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Furthermore, the World Council of Churches describes just peace as “a journey into God’s purpose for humanity and all creation.” Based on this understanding, this journey can be seen to involve the following:
•Just Peace in the Community: Building societies where justice prevails, and human dignity is upheld.
•Just Peace with the Earth: Stewarding creation responsibly, recognising the interconnectedness of all life.
•Just Peace in the Marketplace: Ensuring economic practices that promote fairness and equity.
•Just Peace among the Nations: Advocating for international relations grounded in respect and mutual understanding.
Our pilgrimage today is a step in this journey, a collective commitment to actualizing these dimensions of peace in Tiv land.
The Role of Forgiveness and Reconciliation
The very essence of peace is tied up with the practice of forgiveness and the process of reconciliation. Forgiveness entails the release of resentment and retribution, while reconciliation looks for the restoration of damaged relationships.
To forgive is a unilateral action that frees the one forgiving from the burden of hate, while reconciliation is a bilateral process which involves repentance and assurance of change by the offender.
St. John Vianney speaking of the saints notes that, “The saints have no hatred, no bitterness; they forgive everything, and think they deserve much more for their offenses against God.” This is a saintly perspective, which challenges us to be able to show such immense mercy in our interactions.
As Pope John Paul II articulated in Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, this “Reconciliation is principally a gift of the heavenly Father.” Ultimately, it involves three major things:
Acknowledgment of Wrongs: Honest recognition of offenses committed, paving the way for genuine repentance.
Willingness to Forgive: Letting go of grudges and the desire for retribution, emulating God’s boundless mercy.
Restoration of Relationships: Actively working to rebuild trust and harmony with those
In our land, forgiveness embraced and pursued can heal old wounds and open up paths to lasting peace. It takes courage, humility, and trust in God’s grace.
The Call to be Artisans of Peace
The Church has underlined, through its various documents and the witness of the saints, the imperative of peacemaking. The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council’s Gaudium et Spes explains that, “The Church. moves by the same Gospel of love with which Christ enriched it, to communicate with men and women of all times. to shed light on the mystery of man and to co-operate in finding a solution to the outstanding problems of our time” (Gaudium et Spes 10).
As Pope Francis says in his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, “Each one of us is called to be an artisan of peace, by uniting and not dividing, by extinguishing hatred and not holding on to it, by opening paths of dialogue” (Fratelli Tutti 284).
By these teachings, Mother Church calls us to be active in the practice of peacemaking, to be bridge-builders rather than wall-builders, engaging in actions which promote unity and understanding.
As we reflect upon this call to be artisans of peace, let us be inspired to draw from the rich deposit of our traditions and the indomitable spirit of our people. Guided by principles of justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation, our ancestors have approached the quest for peace with resolute resilience and wisdom for years. Embracing such values will heal our divisions, restore harmony, and build a future wherein peace will flourish in Tiv land.
Conclusion
I will like to conclude with some life principles to ponder upon
1. Always remember that you can grow without destroying others.
2. Always remember that your dreams can be fulfilled without sabotaging others.
3. Always remember that nobody must go down for you to rise.
4. Always remember that nobody must be shamed or embarrassed for your smile to be sustained.
5. Always remember that while others are rising, you can also rise.
6. Always remember that finding satisfaction in the pain of others will never bring you true happiness.
7. Always remember that what you wish others is a prayer for yourself.
8. Become the good fire that genuinely lights up others, not one that ruins the joy, goodwill, and expectation of others.
9. Never take delight in causing pain or sponsoring the tears of another.
10. Always remember that you need the strength, goodwill sacrifice of others to optimise your potentials.
May the New Born Prince of Peace grant us peace now and forever, Amen.