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America is divided.
We can see this on television, we hear it in protests , and we even notice it by yard signs placed in people’s lawns.
Yet, I’m sure what we all want is peace.
Peace in our nation; peace on our streets; peace in our homes; peace in our hearts.
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Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Wenceslaus, who like us wanted peace in his nation.
Born into a royal family in Bohemia – modern day Czech Republic – he became ruler of the kingdom at a very young age.
But his nation, like ours, was a house divided, largely because of religion. Bohemia was a Christian nation, but there also were anti-Christian factions inciting riots.
Wenceslaus made it his mission to bring his nation together, working for unity as Christ commanded us to do.
But when he was 22 years old, he was murdered while on his way to Mass by his brother and other revolutionaries, tearing his nation apart.
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For centuries, Wenceslaus has been remembered as a righteous king, leaving an example for other royals – and ordinary Christians like us – to follow.
When we see our society splintering, we cannot remain silent. We must be proactive in working for peace.
But if Christ is our standard, then we believe that lasting peace only comes through love, honesty, humility, and forgiveness.
Not weapons, hate speech, or mudslinging. And certainly not by posting online slanderous or hurtful words about people we disagree with.
Peace demands humility.
***
How, then, might I be an agent of peace in America today?
