Aloys Budi Purnomo

Our society has been marked by persistent and acute hardships and anxiety resulting from the ravages of conflicts and the threat of terrorism and wars. Rightly, humankind has gradually grown closer together and is everywhere more conscious of its own unity.

But this road is not easy and we will not succeed in establishing a truly human world for everyone unless women and men everywhere devote themselves to the cause of true peace with renewed vigor.

A good example of the need for focused awareness and commitment in developing a peaceful society is given by the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI) and the Churches' Federation of Indonesia (PGI) in their Christmas message to all of Indonesia's Christians. In their message, the KWI-PGI urge Christians to realize that they are truly Indonesians. They should be conscious of their own unity as an integrated part of the nation.

Here we remember the local wisdom promoted by the late Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata: We should be both 100 percent Christian and 100 percent Indonesian. Indonesia is our home as Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia (The United Republic of Indonesia). As Indonesians, the Christian should promote peace and brother-sisterhood.

Although we realize that it is not easy to live together in a truly peaceful situation today because of the conflicts that mark our society, we are optimistic in facing the future because we believe we can live together in peace and in cooperation with each other. That is why we want to foster a peaceful society inspired by the authentic message of Christmas.

As Vatican Council II stated, peace is more than the absence of war and conflict. It cannot be reduced to the maintenance of a balance of power between opposing forces nor does it arise out of despotic dominion, but it is appropriately called the "effect of righteousness". More than this, peace is the fruit of that right ordering of things with which the divine founder has invested human society and which must be actualized by men and women thirsting after an ever more perfect reign of justice.

Peace in our society flows from love of one another. It symbolizes and derives from the peace of Christ who was born in Bethlehem more than two thousand years ago. Therefore, all Christians should earnestly promote peace and speak the truth in love as well.

Based on the joy of Christmas that was sung loudly by the angels to the shepherds who were living out in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!" (Luke 2:14), all Christians should join with all peace-loving men and women in pleading for peace.

Indeed, a peaceful society cannot be constructed unless the welfare of humanity is safeguarded and people freely and trustingly share with one another the riches of their minds and their talents. Accordingly, this society is really the fruit of love, for love goes beyond what justice can ensure. There is no peace without justice, and there is no justice without love.

It is very interesting that the KWI-PGI writes its Christmas' message based on the letter of St. Paul to the Romans, chapter 12, verses 17-21, through which we can understand the meaning of peace in a concrete way. According to St. Paul, we foster a peaceful society when we repay no one evil for evil, and desire only good things for all of its members.

So, as St. Paul urges, "If it is possible, and as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give no place to wrath. Therefore, if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Although we have been dwelling with those who hate peace, we should foster a peaceful society. By fostering this in our communities, we work to counter the opinion that the word peace is associated with sentimentalism, utopianism, radicalism, romanticism and even irresponsibility. Peace and justice are more real today and need to be actualized in our daily lives more than ever!

In Bethlehem, Jesus expressed his will to be a peacemaker. His "yes" of the peacemaker is a humble "yes" in a manger as a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths because there was no room for him in the inn. But it was really a very compassionate peace for all of humanity!

Merry Christmas!

The writer is the Diocesan Priest of the Archdiocese of Semarang and Chief Editor of INSPIRASI magazine, Semarang.

— JP