Active Non-violence

In last week’s Shalom we ended up our reflection that Jesus Christ cut the spiral of violence by offering Himself as victim. Yes, He did so out of love for the victim of the victimiser and for the victimiser himself/herself.

In other words, the only way to stop violence is by offering one’s life in exchange for the life of one who is about to lose his/her life ‎in the hands of the vigilante or police killer. Is this possible? Several things have to be considered.

First of all, it has to be clearly understood that the expression, “active non-violence‎” describes a way of life or simply a life-style motivated only by an unconditional love for one another. Jesus says that loving God effectively is done through love of neighbor. “Greater than this no one has than by dying for one’s friend ” (John 15:3) “. The greater the love, greater has to be the the decision in freedom. This decision has to be the result of prayer, self-knowledge and knowledge of the helpless person threatened by violent death.

One example is that of St. Maximilian Kolbe, OFM, a Franciscan priest who offered himself to die by poisoning in Hitler’s concentration camp to save the life of a family man.‎ Several bishops, priests, religious and lay catechists in modern times have done similar courageous self-offering earning the title of martyrs.

Is this possible at this time when innocent father or mother or child of a poor family is a drug suspect and is threatened with liquidation? I believe so. ‎This is our call and challenge at this moment in time.