The journey through Holy Week is a very good time to consider some of Ganhdi's thoughts on non-violence. We will be able to see our Lord in his discussions. (again, all quotes this week will be from: Non-Violence in Peace and War -1948)
Non-violence implies as complete self-purification as is humanly possible. Man for man the strength of non-violence is in exact proportion to the ability, not the will, of the non-violent person to inflict violence.
It moves to action. Non-violence as a theory is fine to study. Then again, it does long to be our life. For all of us, this means taking a new route in life. Gandhi calls for a "complete self-purification" and it seems that he does this because the way of non-violence is so contrary to the core from which we so easily act in life. I know that I am always battling with acting rather than merely "willing" that I would be a practicioner of non-violence. It is not impossible...but it does take making the move into action...being able to live within that vision within the ordinary stuff through which I walk everyday. I do not think that this "self-purification" is a renunciation of who we are. Rather, we affirm who we are and the power that we have...and then, we rest there so that we are able to resist any attempts to be more than who we are. The moment we become unsettled and dissatisfied with our position in the world, it is the time that we begin to turn to violence to make the world as we would want it. It is that aspect of our humanity that must be "purified" so that we can take on the journey of non-violence.
Connection: "Feet don't fail me now." In the middle of the actual events of our lives, the path of non-violence shows forth when we take the step...act...do.
Precious Lord, just as the disciple's seemed to have the will to stay awake whileJesus went off to pray, they were not able...they slept. We know that we are quite like them. We ask that your Spirit be the power for this day that keeps us faithful to your way of life. Amen.
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