Words for Peace Sept 2013
WORDS OF HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
Saint Peter's Square
Saturday, 7 September 2013
“And God saw that it was good” (Gen 1:12, 18, 21, 25). The biblical account of the beginning of the history of the world and of humanity speaks to us of a God who looks at creation, in a sense contemplating it, and declares: “It is good”. This, dear brothers and sisters, allows us to enter into God’s heart and, precisely from within him, to receive his message.
We can ask ourselves: what does this message mean? What does it say to me, to you, to all of us?
1. It says to us simply that this, our world, in the heart and mind of God, is the “house of harmony and peace”, and that it is the space in which everyone is able to find their proper place and feel “at home”, because it is “good”. All of creation forms a harmonious and good unity, but above all humanity, made in the image and likeness of God, is one family, in which relationships are marked by a true fraternity not only in words: the other person is a brother or sister to love, and our relationship with God, who is love, fidelity and goodness, mirrors every human relationship and brings harmony to the whole of creation. God’s world is a world where everyone feels responsible for the other, for the good of the other. This evening, in reflection, fasting and prayer, each of us deep down should ask ourselves: Is this really the world that I desire? Is this really the world that we all carry in our hearts? Is the world that we want really a world of harmony and peace, in ourselves, in our relations with others, in families, in cities, in and between nations? And does not true freedom mean choosing ways in this world that lead to the good of all and are guided by love?
2. But then we wonder: Is this the world in which we are living? Creation retains its beauty which fills us with awe and it remains a good work. But there is also “violence, division, disagreement, war”. This occurs when man, the summit of creation, stops contemplating beauty and goodness, and withdraws into his own selfishness.
When man thinks only of himself, of his own interests and places himself in the centre, when he permits himself to be captivated by the idols of dominion and power, when he puts himself in God’s place, then all relationships are broken and everything is ruined; then the door opens to violence, indifference, and conflict. This is precisely what the passage in the Book of Genesis seeks to teach us in the story of the Fall: man enters into conflict with himself, he realizes that he is naked and he hides himself because he is afraid (cf. Gen 3: 10), he is afraid of God’s glance; he accuses the woman, she who is flesh of his flesh (cf. v. 12); he breaks harmony with creation, he begins to raise his hand against his brother to kill him. Can we say that from harmony he passes to “disharmony”? No, there is no such thing as “disharmony”; there is either harmony or we fall into chaos, where there is violence, argument, conflict, fear ....
It is exactly in this chaos that God asks man’s conscience: “Where is Abel your brother?” and Cain responds: “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9). We too are asked this question, it would be good for us to ask ourselves as well: Am I really my brother’s keeper? Yes, you are your brother’s keeper! To be human means to care for one another! But when harmony is broken, a metamorphosis occurs: the brother who is to be cared for and loved becomes an adversary to fight, to kill. What violence occurs at that moment, how many conflicts, how many wars have marked our history! We need only look at the suffering of so many brothers and sisters. This is not a question of coincidence, but the truth: we bring about the rebirth of Cain in every act of violence and in every war. All of us! And even today we continue this history of conflict between brothers, even today we raise our hands against our brother. Even today, we let ourselves be guided by idols, by selfishness, by our own interests, and this attitude persists. We have perfected our weapons, our conscience has fallen asleep, and we have sharpened our ideas to justify ourselves. As if it were normal, we continue to sow destruction, pain, death! Violence and war lead only to death, they speak of death! Violence and war are the language of death!
After the chaos of the flood, when it stopped raining, a rainbow appeared and the dove returned with an olive branch. Today, I think also of that olive tree which representatives of various religions planted in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires in 2000, asking that there be no more chaos, asking that there be no more war, asking for peace.
3. And at this point I ask myself: Is it possible to walk the path of peace? Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace? Invoking the help of God, under the maternal gaze of the Salus Populi Romani, Queen of Peace, I say: Yes, it is possible for everyone! From every corner of the world tonight, I would like to hear us cry out: Yes, it is possible for everyone! Or even better, I would like for each one of us, from the least to the greatest, including those called to govern nations, to respond: Yes, we want it! My Christian faith urges me to look to the Cross. How I wish that all men and women of good will would look to the Cross if only for a moment! There, we can see God’s reply: violence is not answered with violence, death is not answered with the language of death. In the silence of the Cross, the uproar of weapons ceases and the language of reconciliation, forgiveness, dialogue, and peace is spoken. This evening, I ask the Lord that we Christians, and our brothers and sisters of other religions, and every man and woman of good will, cry out forcefully: violence and war are never the way to peace! Let everyone be moved to look into the depths of his or her conscience and listen to that word which says: Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer your deadly reasoning, and open yourself to dialogue and reconciliation. Look upon your brother’s sorrow – I think of the children: look upon these… look at the sorrow of your brother, stay your hand and do not add to it, rebuild the harmony that has been shattered; and all this achieved not by conflict but by encounter! May the noise of weapons cease! War always marks the failure of peace, it is always a defeat for humanity. Let the words of Pope Paul VI resound again: “No more one against the other, no more, never! ... war never again, never again war!” (Address to the United Nations, 1965). “Peace expresses itself only in peace, a peace which is not separate from the demands of justice but which is fostered by personal sacrifice, clemency, mercy and love” (World Day of Peace Message, 1975). Brothers and Sisters, forgiveness, dialogue, reconciliation – these are the words of peace, in beloved Syria, in the Middle East, in all the world! Let us pray this evening for reconciliation and peace, let us work for reconciliation and peace, and let us all become, in every place, men and women of reconciliation and peace! So may it be.
Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Mary Queen of Peace
England
Email michaelgcasey@hotmail.com
Web http://communities.msn.com/MichaelCaseyWritingSite
so long ago before I was on Blogger
Revolution (c)
by
Michael CASEY
Opening
A wheelchair is being rocked back and forth , all we see is a close
up of the wheels . After a while the picture opens up , we can see the man
in the wheelchair , he is rolling his eyes as he moves his chair . We are
in the day room of an old peoples home . Most of the residents are
gathered around the TV though it is turned off . In one corner of the room
a blind woman is holding an avid conversation with a Downes Syndrome adult
who has been dumped in the home , the blind lady does not know that the
Downes adult is looking out of the window and not paying attention , even
if she could understand .
A woman , no longer young , her beauty fading fast appears though
a door at the end of the day room she strides through the day room , one
thin woman approaches but is warded off by a look from Tracy . Tracy
glances at the crowd around the TV and rolls her eyes . Tracy continues
on her way towards a door marked office . She is a yard from the door when
she slips on some water and falls over . An old man shambles over to her
her up .
Tracy:Thankyou .
She tidies herself up while Ben (the old man) picks up her papers .
She then notices that the man is wet too , she sniffs . Then edges away
from him .
Tracy:You dirty horrible man , we'll have to put you in nappies next .
Ben :Its my age , and the cold . The cold here gives me the willies .
Tracy:I'll have none of that you horrible old man .
Ben :But .
Tracy:Oh get lost you old bastard !
Tracy lashes out and slaps Ben hard on the face . With that Tracy goes
into the office . On or two of the residents look back at Ben then return
their blank gaze to the broken TV . Glenda the Downes girl comes over and
kisses Ben's face to comfort him , Glenda is very unhappy , so Ben has to
hide his hurt so as to cheer her up .
Ben:It's only a game Glenda , Tracy is always playing games with me .
Glenda looks at him then gives him a hug before returning to the blind
lady's side .
Judy the lady who was warned off by a scowl now approaches Ben .
Judy:What we need is a revolution here . We could kill them an burn them
in the boiler .
Ben :At least it might make the place warmer .
Inside the office we can hear Tracy's raised voice .
Tracy's voice:If they're not pissing themselves then its eating too much
and they play with the theormostats . An that dirty bugger
Ben is always eating me up with his eyes .
Judy:She's only saying that cos her husband divorced her , said she was
too bossy . She a frustrated old cow , she'd soon complain if you
didn't look .
Ben:It's only natural for a man to look , it's all we can do at our age .
Judy:Well I better get these clothes off you .
Ben :But my others are still in the wash , as the washing machine broke .
Judy:You could always wear a dress of mine .
Ben :You must be joking , I still have my pride , I may not have bladder
control but I do have my pride , I was a Desert Rat you know .
Ben moves off his head held high , the faintest traces of a military
bearing are still there . Judy follows .
Judy:I was only joking , I have some old slacks you can wear , you cann't
tell there woman's .
Ben stops , and turns around .
Ben :What colour are they ?
Judy:Brown.
Ben :Alright you're on .
Judy:Were you really a Desert Rat ?
Ben :I've got scars to prove it .
Judy:Let's get those trousers off you then - hero .
Arm in arm they leave the day room . As they leave Tracy leaves the office
at the far end , slamming the door as she does so . She is muttering to
herself . She falls into the pool of "Water" again . She scrambles up
cursing .
Tracy:Oh shit , or should I say piss if I'm not in one I'm in the other ,
what with all these senile lumps of dogmeat , why cann't they die
sooner before they eat us out of house and home . I'm only doing my
uncle a favour till my property settlement comes through the courts
She moves over to the TV .
Tracy:The bloody thing is broke , what do you expect with all channel
changing you lot give it . So find something else to do .
She shakes there armchairs and points towards another set of chairs where
the blind lady is .
Tracy:Go and look out the window you know who much you enjoy that . And
why don't one or two of you jump , it'll be entertainment for the
rest .
With these parting words she leaves the day room , the old folks return to
their seats around the TV . They mutter to one another . Judy returns with
Ben , who is wearing a red dress . The old folks laugh heartily .
Ben :I told you they'd laugh . I'm going to take it off .
Judy:Don't be silly your clothes are soaking in the bath .
Ben :But they're laughing at me . At me an old soldier - a Desert Rat .
Judy:Look Ben that's all we can do for now , unless you want to complain .
Ben :No I don't want to do that , I mean Tracy's got a good right hand , I
got a black eye last month .
Judy:Never , you told us you fell out of bed .
Ben :Well I did after she hit me .
Judy:The bitch , I'll scratch her eyes out .
Glenda comes over to take a close look at Ben in a dress . She even lifts
it up to look underneath . This makes everybody laugh even Ben .
Glenda:You look funny .
Judy :But he does have nice legs .
Everybody laughs again , so much so that George (the owner) and Tracy come
to investigate .
George:Bloody hell Ben , I did not know you were a transvestite .
George lets out a belly laugh . Nobody else laughs .
Tracy:Come on get it off Ben .
Tracy moves forward and reaches for the dress Judy stands in the way .
This is a mistake as Tracy pushes her to one side , so that Judy bangs her
head on the arm rest of one of the chairs .
Tracy:Come on get it off Ben .
There is a brief tussle in which the dress is torn , George pulls Tracy
off
Ben :But I've got nothing else to wear , all my clothes are in the wash
George:It's my fault Tracy I forgot to renew the repair and service
contract , what with test driving my new Rover .
Tracy:So I'm ment to do the office work too , as well as look after these
lumps of grissle while you spend the profits , and when are all
these YTS trainees coming .
They walk away from the old folk
George:One is due tomorrow , come into the office and we'll talk .
Tracy :What if she complains to somebody .
George:They'd never dare complain .
Tracy and George go into the office leaving Ben to help Judy up .
Ben :Are you hurt Judy .
Judy:Not as much as my pride , if I were as young as that bitch I'd have
torn her eyes out , I used to be so strong , now I'm just all bones .
Ben :We're too old to stand up to them .
Blind lady:We could right a letter , to the council .
Judy:Even if we wrote to the lord mayor how would we get it out , the
letter box is a long way away .
Ben :I'd go out and post it , only I cann't walk far with my legs nowdays
Judy:Let's write the letter first , then we can think of delivering it
later .
Fadeout
Judy is on her bed upstairs , Ben is sitting beside her still wearing the
dress .
Judy:There , I told the Mayor that you were a Desert Rat now all we have
to do is post it .
Judy licks the envelope and closes it with a flourish .
Ben :Have you got a stamp ?
Judy:I thought you had one .
Ben :No I thought you had one .
Glenda arrives , to see what is happening .
Judy:Do you have a stamp Glenda ?
Glenda:No but Tracy might she's coming up here .
Ben:We'll have to hide the letter or else she'll see it .
Glenda:Can I have it ?
Judy:Here but don't let Tracy see it .
Tracy arrives on the scene .
Tracy:Are you girl's all right . (Sarcastically)
No reply
Tracy:So the cat's got your tongue , well come downstairs the lunch will
be served in half an hour .
Tracy leaves them , Glenda has wondered to a slightly open window .
Glenda:Look the postman !
Glenda waves at him , and the letter is dropped , a gust of wind takes it
along the road . Judy and Ben have got to the window too late .
Judy:Oh no .
Ben:That's torn it .
Judy:Look the postman's looked up .
Ben:He's waving .
Judy:Shout to him .
Ben :It's no use he won't hear what with all the traffic noise .
THe postman continues with his round , the fallen letter is being blown
along the pavement . After a while a group of high spirited schoolkids on
the way to the swimming baths appears , the letter is kicked and stampted
upon .
Judy:It was worth a try , we better go to for lunch then .
Ben :I suppose your're right , is your eye ok now .
Judy:It'll swell I suppose .
Ben :You'll look silly with a black eye .
Judy:Not as silly as you . Come on Glenda .
Gelenda moves reluctantly from the window . As she does outside in the
street a boy and girl come along (both punks) , the boy stops to do his
shoelace and sees the letter .
Boy :This is to the Lord Mayor .
Girl:Well post it then .
Boy :There's no stamp .
Girl:We're going to town to buy the latest Cliff Richard album for your
mom aren't we ?
Boy :Yes .
Girl:Well we can drop it off .
Boy :Is that your good deed for the day ?
Girl:I'll give you a good deed too if your nice to me .
The pair embrace , then break off as they see a bus coming so they dash
for the bus .
fadeout .
At the town hall , the boy and girl see the Lord Mayor's chauffeur
polishing the Rolls .
Boy :The Lord Mayors's your boss .
Chauffeur:That's right .
Girl:This is for her then .
Chauffeur:It's a bit of a mess , is it a joke ?
Girl:No we found it while we were on the way to town to buy the latest
Cliff Richard album .
Boy :It was her good deed for the day .
The chauffeur looks at them unbelievingly , the couple depart , the
chauffeur calls after them .
Chauffeur:If you really like Cliff then you'll find him in "Claire's" cafe
right now . I dropped him off after he saw the Lord Mayor .
Girl:Great , bye . Come on Damien lets get his autograph for mom .
The chauffeur looks at the letter and opens it .
Chauffeur:Just in case it is a joke .
He reads it , and after a while lets out a scream .
Chauffeur:The bastards .
At this moment the Lord Mayor (an old woman) arrives .
L.Mayor:What's up John .
Chauffeur:Read this .
He thrusts the letter at the Lord Mayor .
Lord Mayor:Bastards. (Quietely spoke) I think we'll pay a vist straight
away .
With that the Lord Mayor jumps in the Rolls and is speed away .
Lord Mayor:Put your foot down John , nobody's going to book us after all .
After a while they arrive at the old folks home . They park outside , the
Lord Mayor gets caught up in the regalia , so John goes in first .
George the owner of the place is coming out .
George:And who the hell are you , you cann't barge in here .
Chauffeur:Are you the owner of this dump .
George:I run this establishment , yes .
Chauffeur:That's all I wanted to know .
With that John the chauffeur really thumps George , George is fat and big
man but John is ex-army . George is mystified when the Lord Mayor in full
regalia arrives .
Chauffeur:You little bastard , treat them like animals , no worse than
animals you do .
Lord Mayor:That's enough , John .
With a final punch John lays George out across George's new car . The two
enter the home the old folk are gathered around the dinner table , the
protions are meagre . Tracy is force feeding the blind lady . Both the
chauffeur and the Lord Mayor looked shocked .
Judy:Look , look our letter must have got though . It's the Lord Mayor !
Ben :But its a woman .
Tracy stops the force feeding to see what's up .
Tracy:Can you old bastards shut up !
Tracy sees the Lord Mayor .
Lord Mayor:Would you be so kind as to hold this John .
THe Lord Mayor takes off the chain of office . Then moves over to Tracy ,
as she does so she smiles beninely at the residents , then she sees Judy's
black eyes , the Ben in the dress . Her face changes .
Lord Mayor:You utter bitch , you whore , you slag .
With that the Lord Mayor lands two whoppers to Tracy's face . Tracy falls
back then after the shock she starts to fight .
Lord Mayor:John you stay out of this .
With that the battle is commenced .
Lord Mayor:Reduce a Desert Rat to wearing a dress will you .
She now has Tracy by the hair and is swinging her about .
Lord Mayor:My husband was a Desert Rat , you little bitch .
With a final swing Tracy is sent flying across the room and bangs her head
against the wall .
Chauffeur:What do we do next ?
Lord Mayor:Well lets get the Tv in here so they can watch while they eat ,
I'll fetch the whiskey in from the car .
Chauffeur:Where's the TV ?
Ben:I'll show you .
Chauffeur:Everything will be ok , we'll sort you out .
Chauffeur and Ben locate the Tv .
Ben:I should have said it does not work .
Chauffeur well it's no good in here then is it .
With that the chauffeur picks the monster up .
Chauffeur:Can you open the window.
Ben:Certainly .
The window is opened , the Lord Mayor is returning with whisky from the
Rolls , she stops by George to kick him where it hurts , before entering .
The Chauffeur smiles then throws the tv out , and just misses George , but
does manage to break the car windscreen .
Chauffeur:Well Sir , shall we go and have a drink .
Ben:I suppose we need one . You are strong aren't you .
Chauffeur:The Falklands was my war Sir .
Ben:I had it in the Desert .
The chauffeur stops and salutes .
Chauffeur:Then its a pleasure to meet a fellow soldier Sir .
They shake hands . Ben pulls himself up , his pride has returned . We
watch from behind as they leave the day room .
Fadeout
Then next scene is of George and Tracy being led away by the police , this
is viewed from inside as the Lord Mayor is handing out fish and chips
which are eagerly accepted .
Lord Mayor:Well John , I've made a few calls and things will be put right
TODAY .
John:What about this place ?
Lord Mayor:The council will take it over , I've asked Jim Knowles to step
into the breach.
John:But isn't he due to retire ?
Lord Mayor:He'll do it for me . (SHE PREENS HERSELF)
John:He'll need help ?
Lord Mayor:He'll have one or two , after all PROFESSIONALS do make a
difference .
The Lord Mayor goes over to wipe the face of one the residents leaving
John to sigh , before smiling then himself going over to help at table .
Fadeout .
Jim Knowles has arrived at the home . He is fat balding and wears National
Health glasses . He is running around everywhere , beads of sweat on his
forehead . He is getting papers for the residents to read , pumping up
cushions and the like . Judy and Ben watch from the side , they are
holding hands .
Judy:What a difference .
Ben :And he got me this suit .
Ben strokes the lapels , his pride is restored .
Judy:Yes , Jim is such a nice man .
Ben :The place still needs a bit of livening up though .
With that there is a clatter of buckets , and Doreen appears she is the
black cleaner , she is singing gospel style .
Doreen:The Lord is in his heaven and says if you work well you'll never
burn in that dark hell . (SINGS)
She wrings out the mop before continuing .
Doreen:Praise the Lord and be happy for he sees you when you're unhappy ,
he comes and shares your troubles , he blows them away like so many
bubbles .
Bubbles from the bucket float away and Doreen bursts them as she sings .
Doreen:Sing for Joy the Lord has come , the battle against Satan will
always be won . For he is mighty , he is strong he'll never let you
go far wrong . For he only wants to save us from witchcraft and by
his laughter show us that the devil is so daft . For by his light
you can see eternity . (SINGS)
Doreen continues humming as she heads away , cleaning as she does so .
Judy:She's a bit silly that one .
Ben :Her hearts in the right place .
Judy:I doubt if you could find it under all that blubber .
Ben :I don't think she's fat , not really .
Judy:Well we know about you and women , the bigger the better .
Judy pulls her hand away from Ben .
Ben :But I like you don't I ?
Judy:I wouldn't know , would I ?
Ben :Of course I do .
Ben takes Judy's hand , Judy does not resist ,
Judy:Oh you are soppy . You'll ruin my reputation you will .
Ben :Who cares .
Judy:Well I do .
Judy pulls her hand away again .
Ben :Well at least at our age I won't be getting you into trouble .
Judy glares at him then disolves into laughter , before giving Ben her
hand which he kisses .
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