Fr. Chris - Third Sunday of Lent - Homily

" Let There Be Peace"
This past Friday, the 5th of March, marks an historically important event: the arrival of Pope Francis in Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq. Baghdad was once known in Arabic as Madīnat al-Salām or the “City of Peace”. And peace is the main theme of Father Francis’s visit – to call for ‘peace’ in a country torn by war and insurrection. Clashes of religious and cultural identities continue to dominate Iraq’s people. In the turmoil, the Christian faction has especially been numbered. Is it any surprise they are astonished that their ‘Papa’ has come to support them in this ‘angry’ land?
 
Against all warnings, the 84-year-old, Pope Francis, set aside concerns for his safety and security, even during the pandemic, to make his pilgrimage of peace to ‘all’ the people of Iraq. As he arrived in Baghdad, a young Iraqi Christian boy urged his ‘hero’ to use his ‘popemobile’ for safety. In the end, Pope Francis has travelled in an armoured car accompanied by security and police on motorcycles.
 
Meanwhile, people holding up signs and banners of Pope Francis with the words, “We are all Brothers” have lined the streets, eager to get as close to him as allowed.
He has visited the birthplace of Abraham, cherished by Christian, Jew and Muslim. Saturday, he makes his historic visit with Iraq’s head Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatolla Ali al-Sistani, highly esteemed in Iraq and neighbouring countries. So far, good relations with the Muslim community have grown with Francis’ intervention, thanks in part to his friendship with leading Sunni cleric, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb.   
 
What does Francis ask? However traumatized Iraq may be by anger and hatred, he is calling for tolerance, peace, and especially equal rights and safety for Christians and all minorities just as the Shiite Muslim majority enjoy: “The religious, cultural and ethnic diversity which has been a hallmark of Iraqi society for millennia is a precious resource on which to draw, not an obstacle to eliminate. Iraq is called to show everyone, especially in the Middle East, that diversity, instead of giving rise to conflict, should lead to harmonious co-operation in the life of her society.”
 
In this unprecedented visit, Pope Francis certainly gives honour to his beloved Saint Francis as an ‘instrument of peace’: “Where there is ‘anger’, let us sow ‘peace’.”   
 
Today, we see Jesus express anger, but an anger justified, because it is expressed in the name of love, love for his God, and for the sincere devotions of the people who were coming to the temple for spiritual nourishment, but were being compromised by the distractions of common commerce soiling the steps of their sacred home.
This is justified anger which rises up against any indignity, injustice, and malice toward the human condition and truth itself.
 
It is anger, born out of fear and insecurity, which takes us to a bad place. This is the source and foundation of the anger and hatred which Francis hopes to dispel.
 
In his book, Anger, Kingston minister and counsellor, Keith Ashford, says, “anger cannot exactly be managed, often not even denied, avoided, or repressed with any satisfactory result. But it can be transformed into its opposite which is inner peace, resulting in richer relationships, less conflict, and better well-being,” (Synopsis).
If we feel angry, stop and first acknowledge the anger itself. It wants you to pay attention to it. Then ask yourself, is it justified anger like Christ’s? Anger is often a catalyst, calling us to change something. But if it involves the harm of someone, it is not justified. So, if not justified, then again, step aside and look at it objectively. Own the anger as just one of your ‘emotions’, nothing else. Whatever details may be catalysts for the anger are what need to be assessed; not the anger itself. Then take 3 deep breaths. Smile, since smiling is known to quickly change temperament. Realize your anger is pointing something out to you, maybe at a deep level, in effect your anger is helping you to help yourself. Keith says, “Learning to help ourselves by accepting and using our anger for change will also teach us how to help others help themselves. This is true Christian charitable work.”
 
Imagine if an entire nation stopped, acknowledged, accepted its anger, observed it, determined what it is trying to tell them – where change is possible, dispelled fear and insecurity re their differences, and rebuilt themselves with acceptance and love.  
 
Otherwise, like Apostle Paul tells us (Eph 4.26-27): “Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.”
 
This week’s Lenten Project question is: “Where am I now?”
 
– Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario