Peace: Why It is Elusive

 Reflection on Today's Readings, the Solemnity of Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria, October 1st, 2020

Texts: Is. 11:1-10; Ps. 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17; Eph. 2:13-22; Matt. 2:13-15,19-23

Today we celebrate the independence of our nation, Nigeria. For some years now peace has eluded us; we live in fear every day.  Every day we risk our lives: banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, and terrorism have become our daily experiences. Bribery and corruption are part of what has robbed us of our peace.

Today's Readings tell us why peace has become an illusion in our nation. In the first reading, the chief part of God's plan to establish peace on earth is the giving of a good and trustworthy leader who is described thus: "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." We need leaders who understand our vision and have the wisdom to actualize it. We need leaders who have the political might, spiritual might, intellectual might, and moral rectitude to fulfill our dream, the dream of our fathers who fought for the freedom of our nation. We need leaders who will fight for justice and judge in righteousness. 

Peace often eludes us because we have not listened to the cry of the poor and those who are helpless; we do not have pity on the weak and the needy. The effect of what we have left undone has caught up with us, and we now experience it in the form of terrorism, banditry, armedrobbery, kidnapping, violence, etc. 

Peace eludes us because the quality of our education is poor and it's standard low. Government, teachers and parents must have new orientation. These days some people carry certificates they did not work for; they hold certificates that do not reflect who their knowledge but that of another. Parents and teachers are responsible for it. Examination malpractice has been on the increase because some teachers cooperate with students. Some parents also share from the blame. Some parents register their children where they can commit examination malpractice.  

Our educational institutions make up the repository of our nation's knowledge. Teachers and parents have roles to play here in sustaining peace in our nation. What kind of knowledge do they impart on the citizens of our nation. Societal ills such as banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, robbery, etc, could be solved where we have good quality and high standard of education. Good education could also solve the problem of bad leadership. Teachers and parents are to impart on the citizens moral, religious and cultural values that breed peace.

Religious institutions also have a role to play; they are to impart the fear and the knowledge of the Lord on the citizens.   For peace to reign the earth must be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. The first reading says, "They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as waters cover the sea." Everyone, both leaders and citizens, must fear the Lord for peace to reign. We are to understand one another and counsel one another to make peace reign.

The second reading reminds us that we have to break the wall of hostility. Every kind of value, be it cultural or religious, that is inimical to national unity and nation building should be jettisoned. Let us abandon prejudice, bias, ethnicism etc, for peace to reign. Jesus Christ abolished the law to form one people out of Jews and Gentiles.

The gospel reminds us of how hostile we could be to the cause of peace. Jesus, the author of peace was being hunted and as such he went to exile. 

Lord our God, grant to us in our nation, Nigeria, peace. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke