(This is a full text of my homily during my tenure in Spiritual Pastoral Formation Year at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, Quezon City)
We have heard the phrase ‘an eye for an eye and a t tooth for a tooth’ a phrase from an ancient code of Hammurabi, who reigned in Babylon four thousand years ago…a phrase that entails punishment specifically penalties of the same kind for the offender. It is giving due justice with an equal and same degree as the offender did, the principle of exact reciprocity is very clearly used. For example, if a person caused the death of another person, the killer would be put to death (Hammurabi's code, §230). Though not as so violent as Hammurabi’s code but this is sometimes our response to our offenders on a situation wherein a person greatly attacks another person either by physical or psychological means to destroy him completely. For some of us, the offense committed should be penalized with the same way as vengeful and as harsh as possible. I am not a fan of Pinoy action films but somehow you will be able to identify from this genre especially local ones the same principle or theme in the predictable storyline: 3 Vs: violence, vengeance and vindication. Ika nga ng namayapang actionstar sa kanyang pelikula : Masagasaan na ang dapat masagasaan pero kailanganpatas lang…walang personalan trabaho lang. Nothing personal but seems synonymous to the thinking’ I only did what is right and what is due.’
Discussions and negotiations are out of the question and what matter is to attain justice even to the point of no consideration of mercy and forgiveness. Is this genuine justice? Or are we just refining violence in the sense of giving the same degree of punishment to others because they have hurt our ego so bad and trample our personhood to the lowest? Is violence an answer to offence committed?
I have been in some squabbles and fights with a friend, classmate or a sibling in school or at home, and whenever someone hurts me so bad, I do the same thing for that person but at the end did I really attain justice for my personal satisfaction? Or Am I just being selfish just to meet my personal due? Well maybe there was satisfaction but considering also that I just made the situation so hard for me instead of lightening up. It did not help me to ease my revenge after all. In a certain reality, it is difficult to be merciful to others especially on circumstances that totally minced our very being and reputation. But let us think if we answer violence in a different way, in a process which breaks the principles of vengeance and punishment?
Jesus has offered us quite remarkable ways that instead of resistance, openness; of retaliation, mercy-giving, and of revenge, forgiveness. The call of attaining justice does not impound us to vengeance alone but to go beyond and answer the call of grace of mercy, compassion and forgiveness and that challenges us to be peacemakers as Christians should be. Jesus invites us to transform relationship in a deeper sense of human understanding and values, beyond physical vengeance, insults and injustice but the call of grace to treat others not as they deserve but as God wishes them to be treated with loving-kindness and mercy, be with our enemy or friends, foes, offenders and law abiding citizens. This is our call to be peacemakers, be an instrument of peace and builders of hope and mercy-provider,a unique call for every Christian in response to our God…a God who gives due justice, a God who knows no hatred but a loving and merciful God who looks at us despite our human transgressions and weaknesses and a God that is not a violent God but the God of mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
We challenge ourselves to this transforming relationship: resist any forms of violence and become more generous to the call of giving mercy, let others feel our compassion and forgive what they have done wrong to us, do greater deeds of transforming hatred into acceptance and willingly embrace the hardest thing to accept even it hurts us so badly. Let us pray to God that He grants us these gifts and to set aside any of our personal hurts and pride, to be more open and understanding and selfless. Let us ask God the grace to open our hearts with prayerful and hopeful intentions to become peacemakers, hope-builders and mercy-givers.
As we continue the celebration of the Holy Eucharist let us utter the famous prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, and now becomes our reflection prayer to respond to the challenge:
“Lord, make me an instrument of
your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Amen.
