Religion and Violence

 

Gospel: Luke 11: 15-26

It has been the history of human beings that we escalate the scope and lethal nature of violence.  If we but look at the development of weaponry over the centuries we see how in each generation we have created more deadly weapons and higher body counts.  And we rely on these weapons and our strength to protect our material possessions and self-interest.  Many who read today’s Gospel see the passage entirely along these lines.

But the house we protect is not our material possessions; the house is a symbol of our soul, the dwelling place of God in the world.  It is that we seek to protect, and to rely on our own strength and possessions is useless, for we will face another stronger than us and more well-armed.  But if we rely on the one who is to dwell in our house, the all-powerful God, then we have no worries at all.  Our house will be safe and our peace secure.

When we make religion about occupying space, about ourselves and our possessions, then we are far from its real meaning and we will find no satisfaction.  But when we see religion as a process, a pilgrimage and journey, when we see the house as where the one thing necessary – our peace with God dwelling within us – then we have found the pearl of great price and authentic peace found in life with God.