Francis Gonsalves

Christianity, like other religions, finds itself divided into sects or “churches”, popularly called “denominations”. When a little girl was asked by her classmate: “Are you Catholic or Protestant?” she innocently replied, “No, I’m from another abomination!” Sadly, though Jesus desired that his disciples live in unity and peace, there are so many denominations among Christians that Jesus too would probably see these as abominations, not denominations. Hence, every January, Christians of diverse denominations come together for a “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” concluding with a “Day of Prayer for Peace” (January 30th).
Peace is a value that every religion proclaims in vibrant voices: shanti, salaam, shalom. Yet, peace is elusive; and, ironically, some of the bloodiest wars are fought in God’s name. Thus, we must draw wisdom from the wellsprings of our traditions so that peace might not only be a distant dream but a down-to-earth reality.
Peace is sometimes seen in negative terms as the absence of war. But, the Sanskrit shanti, Hebrew shalom and the Arabic salaam more positively suggest an integral wholeness resulting from the right relationship with others, nature and the Absolute. Peace has an inner dimension and an outer one, the latter unattainable without the former.
In his book Being Peace, the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh writes: “Without being peace, we cannot do anything for peace”. He adds: “How do you want to create peace, if there is no peace inside yourselves?” Peace must dwell deep within one’s own being before it overflows to others. The essence of shanti emphasises the inner source, the absence of peace being due to interior unrest and ignorance.
In classical Hinduism, the Vedas pray for peace. In the Atharva Veda we read: “Peace (shanti) be to the earth and to airy spaces! Peace (shanti) be to heaven, peace (shanti) to the waters, peace (shanti) to the plants and peace (shanti) to the trees! May all the gods grant me peace (shanti)!” The peace experienced within is breathed out as blessing to all of creation.
The holy Koran, likewise, recommends salaam as a greeting: “If those come to you who believe in our signs say: ‘Peace be upon you!’” and “If you enter dwellings say salaam upon one another...” During the salat, the prescribed ritual prayer, salaam is used as a benediction for Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, and Allah’s faithful worshippers. Moreover, salaam is one of the 99 beautiful names of Allah.
The Jewish shalom implies blessing, happiness, equality, justice and repose. In the Zohar we read: “God is peace (shalom), God’s name is peace (shalom), and all is bound together in peace (shalom)”. Peace is affirmed as the Transcendent One and also as the value that binds all creatures. Peace is a divine gift and it requires human effort too.
In his famous “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus preached: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God”. This peace has nothing to do with pious passivism, but involves commitment to peoples in order to “make peace” thereby ensuring justice for all. In “making peace” peacemakers frequently suffer violence. This was true of Jesus, crucified, and of the great peacemaker, Mahatma Gandhi, whose martyrdom we shall soon commemorate. Such lives can never be snuffed out. They live on.
Before his death Jesus prayed to God for his disciples: “May they all be one, Father, as you are in me and I am in you”. After his resurrection he gave his disciples blessings of peace: “Peace be with you!” Jesus’ much-desired unity among his disciples and his dreams for peace among all peoples need our prayers and sincere efforts for harmony.
Like four streams flowing into a sea of serenity, peace requires, first, respect for all peoples; second, the readiness to listen and learn from others; third, that we find areas of common life and cooperation; fourth, that we realise that no single religion can exhaust the Divine Mystery, one of whose names is peace. And those dismissive of dharma and denomination, heaven and nirvana, could heed the words of Gandhiji: “Peace is its own reward”. Need we strive for any other?

— Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi. He is involved in interfaith dialogue and peoples’ initiatives for fostering justice, harmony and peace. He can be
contacted at fragons@gmail.com