Picture yourself in the crowd of people who were disciples or followers or regular folks who just liked to hear Jesus speak to them. You really benefited from his presence, and now he is gone. Although he was executed for challenging the status quo, you’ve been buoyed by learning that he rose from the dead and still animates those who knew him best. You learn that he did not just leave the memory of his activities, but he also guides his followers through what he called the Paraclete (a term that refers to “one who stands by the side of a defendant.” This Divine presence was regarded as an “advocate,” “counselor,” and “comforter.”
John’s Gospel spells out how Jesus and the Father were “one” and that this Paraclete was the continued presence of Jesus who He referred to as the “Holy Spirit.” In spelling out the role of the Holy Spirit, the early Christians (just as today’s) were consoled to know they still had access to the wisdom and guidance of the Father and Son. The Holy Spirit continued the presence of Jesus and guided succeeding generations in understanding how His teachings should be interpreted and applied to changing historical eras.
Just as debates occur today in which Christians take sides, so it was at the beginning of Church history. For example, in the year 49, there occurred what is called the “Council of Jerusalem.” The community was divided on the matter of circumcision. That is, should new converts (“Gentiles”) have to circumcise their baby boys (the bris ceremony still practiced by Jewish families today—as taught in the Book of Leviticus). Recall that this was a “scarification” rite practiced by the 12 tribes of Israel (just as other scarring rites are done by peoples around the world). The decision was reached that stated no such scar need be the mark of Christians. Instead, their “hearts and minds” needed change—such that their identification should be that they “love one another.”
The issue at play in this matter and countless others is: what is “of God” and what is NOT “of God.” The Holy Spirit would help generations of Christians “discern” (prayerfully decide) what “spirit” comes from God and what spirit does not. After all, we have many choices offered to us daily. Our challenge is deciding what God calls us to do. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, wrote a well-known spiritual work that addressed the “discernment of spirits,” and these “rules” have helped countless numbers of people make good decisions. They were able to detect the presence of the “Holy Spirit” of God, and not just the “spirit” of the times, or the spirit of passing philosophies. In short, the Holy Spirit’s presence has been summed up in the popular acronym: WWJD (“what would Jesus do”).
Sometimes, within different groups, there is a mentality of “we’ve always done it this way” (so don’t change). The Holy Spirit often stirs within a group the desire to try something new, break new ground, create something afresh, etc. Vatican II, for example, challenged Catholics to adjust to changing times (since the tendency of human behavior is to NOT change). Pope John the 23rd announced that a new breeze was needed within the Church so as to blow the dust away from behaviors that no longer spoke as powerfully as they once did. As you know, 60 years later we still see people resisting changes made at Vatican II.
So what does our faith tradition have to say about Memorial Day weekend? While not a Church holy day or feast, this yearly event for most people is just a day off from work which allows families to do yard work or have a picnic. For some, the day represents a time for remembering deceased relatives—especially those lost in war. For me, it brings back memories of my brother Bud, who served in the Pacific during World War 2.
Stationed in Guam, Ulithi Atoll, Pelalu, and the Aleutian Islands, he experienced enough horror to recognize war as “hell.” I think his bouts with alcohol resulted from what today we’d call post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Throughout life, he was a sharp, friendly, and gifted guy—whose memories made nightmares keep him awake in later life. For me, he came to symbolize each person here today, the people you have at home, and all God’s children. We all carry wounds and tattoos on the heart that haunt us or hurt us in some way. Knowing this reality, the new Pope (Leo) greeted his first audience with the words “Peace be with you.” Echoing what we hear Jesus say at every Mass, he reminded all people that our number one responsibility is not to wage war with one another, but instead to wage peace.
I’ve been labelled from time to time as a war protester or anti-military, and I think of being raised in a family with lapel pins saying: “I like Ike” (a reference to General Eisenhower (later president). I think of being a little boy with Buddy my Marine brother-hero. And I think of how our identity as people of the Gospel must always represent our faith commitment in ways that will stop families from having to suffer the loss of children to war or its legacy. May we always be known for being people of peace.