“Peter came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times? Jesus answered ‘Not seven times, but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18.21–35)”
According to Jews seven is the perfect number so seventy-seven times would be saying that forgiveness is unlimited.
In the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18: 9–14), the tax collector repents. The tax collector was in the right with God when he went home.
In the incident where Jesus went to the home of Zacchaeus (Luke19:1–10) we learn that sinners are forgiven when they repent.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation means that we have to forgive our enemies sins and let them forgive ours so that we can be reconciled with them.
“Love your enemies,”
This is a suggestion that reconciliation starts with the individual person.
“For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil.”
This means that good and bad people enjoy the good things of creation. We ought to reflect the Father who loves the world.
Saint Paul tells us not to get revenge and to do everything possible on your part to live in peace. He tells us to conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:17 – 21)
“Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar an there remember that your brother has some thing against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift.”
If you are offering something to God then you should be reconciled with everybody
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PART 2
How might Christians apply these beliefs in situations of conflict today? Refer to two specific situations of conflict to illustrate your answer.
Northern Ireland
Justice
Justice is needed to be applied in order to bring N.Ireland to peace. If justice had been evident a long time ago then there would be a lot fewer troubles. If the UVF shoot a catholic then the IRA will go and shoot a protestant, which is not serving justice. N.Ireland has had a lack of justice and rights take for example, the civil rights marches in 1968.
Justice was not done when the criminal Johnny Adair had a short prison sentence.
Christians believe that families of victims from the troubles feel that justice has not been done. These families want peace instead of revenge.
The killing has not stopped and until there is justice there will be no peace in N.Ireland.
Jesus served justice to his people and as a result there was peace. In N.Ireland revenge has created a lot of conflict so people should apply justice instead of revenge.
Forgiveness
People do not know what they are doing when they seek revenge. If they realise this and forgive instead, there will be peace. Gordon Wilson stood and talked about love and forgiveness even as his daughter was still unburied from the bomb attack in Enniskillen. This is a notable action of forgiveness. Christians should all learn to forgive like Gordon Wilson.
Reconciliation
The Good Friday agreement is an example of reconciliation. In this discussion everyone came together and identified what went wrong. They admitted to their part of the wrong and asked for forgiveness. Everyone shook hands, tried to forget the past and tried to make a new beginning. These are the four steps to reconciliation.
September 11th
Justice
America may not have done justice on Afghanistan by getting revenge. They should have resolved the matter instead. Afghan soldiers were caged up like animals in Camp X RAY. This is torture and is not serving justice. Afghanistan may not have been doing justice in the first place but America was being in just to them by not treating Iraq fairly and not giving them a fair price on oil.
Forgiveness
America acted in an unforgiving way but instead their actions led to even more death. If the Government forgive then there would be less death and more peace around the world. The people from Iraq may have disagreed with their Governments ways of taking revenge on America. America may have released some prisoners from Camp X RAY so Christians would see this as a sign of forgiveness.
Reconciliation
In order to reconcile, America and Iraq should come together and discuss what went wrong. They should be honest about what part they played in the wrong. They should admit and ask for forgiveness. The leaders should then shake hands and try to make a new beginning. If these steps are used then there will soon be peace.
*As you can see from these two pieces of information, Christians need to apply their beliefs of justice, forgiveness and reconciliation to bring about peace.
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Part Three
‘Even if Conventional War is acceptable for Christians, nuclear war could never be’. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer showing that you have thought about more than one point of view.
Arguments in favour of Nuclear Weapons:
If each of the major cities in the world have an equal number of nuclear weapons each then peace will be maintained as no one nation will be able to win the war.
Japan was forced to surrender from the Second World War due to nuclear bombs, thus saving thousands of American lives.
In a modern war one would only be able to use a small number of nuclear devices.
Arguments against Nuclear Weapons and War:
If one has a very large amount of Nuclear weapons then he cannot use them in a limited way – it is all or nothing.
Nuclear weapons would be able to greatly destroy countries and homes and could never be justified.
A nuclear war could never be a just war because of the damage it would cause on the environment. The land would be inhabitable and it would be almost impossible for any survivors of the war to live on it.
There are far too many nuclear weapons in the world as humankind would be able to destroy the world and every human being sixteen times over.
The Pope has condemned the possible use of nuclear weapons.
“In this age, which boasts of its atomic power, it no longer makes sense to maintain that war is a fit instrument with which to repair the violation of justice.”
I believe that nuclear war can never be justified. If a small nuclear weapon were to be dropped on Ireland then nearly everyone would die, if not by the blast then by the radiation. No one would ever be able to live on the land again, as it would be so radiated.
How can this be just? Nuclear weapons can end wars as well as start them. If we want peace then we must forgive what happened in the past and be prepared to work together for the future.
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Referees
Mike Keane and Joe Hennessy, Issues and Beliefs in the Catholic Faith.
Rev. John Forsythe, Come Follow Me.
Sr. Anne Bourke, SND, Dimensions of Christianity.
Catechism of the Catholic Church.
