Following the Prince of Peace by Carol Wolman

Following the Prince of Peace by Carol Wolman

Cindy Sheehan has sparked a revitalization of the peace movement.  She is using techniques pioneered by the Prince of Peace: speaking truth to power, denouncing hypocrisy, preaching peace.

Cindy is being attacked, smeared, ridiculed by the bad guys.  She has been made to walk in a ditch, shot at, ostracized by her family, divorced by her husband.  Cindy understands that one accepts suffering when one follows the Prince of Peace.

Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.

 

This is one of the hardest teachings Jesus gave us, yet it is the natural order of things to resist change.  Powerhungry people especially resist giving up their power, so those who challenge them must be prepared to suffer and even die.  Jesus made passive resistance a noble thing; prior to His coming, it was shameful not to fight one's enemies physically.

 

Jesus faced many of the same things we do; a greedy empire oppressing and robbing its people to finance foreign expansion, a corrupt ruling elite which pretended to be pious and  tried to enforce religious practices (the Pharisees), a culture of violence and exploitation.  He demonstrated nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience as techniques, and taught us that one person with enough determination can change the world.

 

Many have followed His example over the century.  Martin Luther King, Jr. led us out of the Egypt of racism, and was martyred for doing it.  Gandhi in India (greatly influenced by Jesus) met the same fate for leading his people to freedom from British colonialism.

 

As we struggle to free ourselves from the tyranny of the Bush administration, let us consider the sacrifices Cindy has made, and ask ourselves if we are willing to do the same.  The future of our country and of our planet is at stake.

 

In the name of the Prince of Peace,  Carol Wolman