Theologian Stanley Hauerwas once described a conversation that took place at a VFW Hall. Someone was challenging a Viet Nam veteran named Roger, saying that World War II was the “real war”,and that Viet Nam veterans should stop complaining about their plight. Roger looked at his critic and said, “Have you ever had to kill someone to stay alive?” The person said, “Well, no.” Roger responded, “Then you really don’t have any thing to say to me.” Later in the evening, Hauerwas engaged the veteran. ““Roger, when you got pushed just now, you came back with the fact that you had to kill in Vietnam. Was that the worst of it for you?” “Yah,” he said. “That’s half of it.” Hauerwas said, “I waited for a very long time, but he didn’t go on. He only stared into his beer. Finally I had to ask, “What was the other half?” “The other half was that when we got home, nobody understood.”
Sunday marks a holiday weekend in America when the country is asked to remember those who have fallen in combat. Ironically, one of the proscribed biblical passages for Sunday is a story of Jesus’ last night with his disciples. In that discourse, Jesus says to them, “Peace I live with you; My peace I leave with you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” In the Hebrew Scriptures, this “peace” is the word “Shalom”, and refers to much more than a cessation of hostilities. Shalom describes a wholeness and sense of communal and personal wellbeing that flows from justice and mutual love. It is at the heart of the Aaronic blessing, which includes the line, “May the very face of God shine upon you, and give you peace.”
We’ll talk about this in service on Sunday at St. Mark’s as the sermon is titled, “Peace: A Graceful Flourishing into the Purposes of God.” The Aaron Blessing found in Numbers 6: 24-26 will be ready by Glenda Murray, and Liz McDaniel, will read the Gospel Lesson, which is John 14: 23-29. Mary Wheeler will lead the Call to Worship. We will be led musically by the Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs. We’ll have a moment for children, and pray and sing together.