On the Wednesday of Holy Week, members of the Sweet Briar College community gathered for a vigil on the steps of the Memorial Chapel.
We gathered to recognize the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq, to honor the sacrifice of the women and men of our armed services and their families at home, to show our solidarity with victims of violence and hostility in all times and places, and to envision an end to war — not just this war but all wars.
There are, no doubt, multiple reasons for the war in which our nation is currently engaged, just as there are multiple views as to how and when the present conflict should be brought to a conclusion.
Folks, who love humanity in general and this land in particular, can’t always agree on a future course. Yet, there is a sentiment, a conviction that springs alive in all of us: In spite of political position or ideology, there is the affirmation that whenever possible, human suffering must be alleviated and the conditions which lead to human suffering ought to be addressed.
We are never fully alive unless we are able to exercise some positive regard toward others, especially those others we will never meet, those others with whom our only connection is our common humanity.
In my mind, to hold a Holy Week vigil for a more peaceful future is most appropriate, for what Holy Week declares is that the violence and brutality of Good Friday are overturned and rendered null and void in light of the resurrection on Easter morning.
In the resurrection, violence and brutality do not have the last word. Instead, the treasured place of triumph belongs to the divine goodness of God. I frequently find myself telling students, “Love is more powerful than guns and bombs.” It’s the truth and always has been.
The divine love that raised Jesus from the dead was greater than the Roman brutality evidenced in the crucifixion. While the resurrection story is foundational for the Christian faith in particular, its answer to violence is universal for all people of all faiths and even for those who are uncertain about organized religion.
In its celebration, Holy Week declares that violence and brutality do not have the last word and that better days can be realized. That’s something everyone can get behind.
A couple of weeks ago, folks gathered outside the Memorial Chapel with candles in hand to envision better days. A candle is a powerful thing — even a tiny light can dispel much darkness. A lighted candle also is a universal symbol of hope. I wish that hope for all of you.
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