That All May Be One / Fr. Rick Ginther

‘Exploring peace’ is theme for this year’s Festival of Faiths on Sept. 15

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.

“Have no anxiety at all, but in thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

“Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:4-7).

We long for peace. Personal peace. Household peace. Intra-national peace. World peace.

And yet it is so elusive! Not only now, but through the history of the ages.

How do we attain it?

Pope St. Paul VI declared in 1972: “If you want peace, work for justice.”

This short sentence is more than the stuff of bumper stickers. It is a truth rooted in the Hebrew Testament prophets and psalms. It is clearly rooted in the person of Jesus.

What if the many religions of central Indiana came together in peace and for peace?

Such a gathering will happen from 1-5 p.m. on Sept. 15 at University Park in downtown Indianapolis.

Sponsored by the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, the 11th annual Festival of Faiths focuses this year upon “Exploring Peace.”

Is peace a universal value among the many world religions? One could wonder, given the current conflicts in our world and the history of religious wars.

Human frailty, fear, ambition and the sin of hate fuel such conflicts. Religious arrogance can play a part as well.

But the basic tenants of virtually all religions proclaim peace as central to their belief systems.

On Sept. 15, we have a chance to discover this experientially.

Perhaps we will be greeted with “Shalom,” a Hebrew word derived from one of the names of God. It means “complete” or “whole.” Accordingly, only when there is a true state of “wholeness,” meaning that everything is “complete,” does true “peace” reign.

At another booth, one might hear “Salam alaikum,” a traditional greeting of peace. Such greeting reflects in Islam the practice of a peaceful, harmonious society that is just and free from conflict and violence. It extends as well to heavenly greetings between Muslims and non-Muslims.

At the Sikh booth, one might hear “Namaste.” This greeting, shared by Hindus and Buddhists, means “respect to you.” Is not respect an expression of peace?

Sikhism emphasizes peace and non-violence, but will “battle” oppression. Sikhs believe that genuine peace is not possible when there is suffering in society. Thus, equality, social justice, service to humanity and tolerance for other religions is essential for them.

One might hear “Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti”—“peace, peace, peace.” This Hindu greeting wishes, “May all beneficent beings bring peace to us. May your wisdom spread peace all through the world. May all things be a source of peace to all and to me.”

The Bahá’í are committed to universal peace—“the supreme goal of all mankind.” Social principles which can bring about this peace include the independent search for truth, oneness of humanity, the equality of men and women, and the abolition of prejudice, to name a few.

A term in Jainism, “ahimsa,” speaks of a path to enlightenment. Jainism teaches peace and nonviolence on this path. All living things, including plants and animals, have souls and are to be treated with reverence. Harming living things in any way, even violence in thought and speech, is just as bad as physical violence.

“Peace be upon you!” Come join people of faith in their common longing for peace! And as Catholic Christians, come with a greeting in your heart: “If you want peace, work for justice.”
 

(Father Rick Ginther is director of the archdiocesan Office of Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs. He is also the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Indianapolis.) †