Veterans are those in our midst who, at some point in their lives, were willing to lay down their life for their friends (John 15:13). As a civilian who has stayed in the background during all the wars that have occurred in my lifetime, I stand in awe of the humility it takes to serve one’s country. In addition, some of the most effective peace advocates I’ve ever met have been veterans, who have spoken about the realities and costs of war. Haven’t you noticed that those who are glib about war are usually those who haven’t served?
Many don’t realize that St. Francis, the patron saint of peacemakers, was a veteran. Likewise, some of the greatest wisdom in the Bible comes to us through the Hebrew prophets, who brought a needed realism to the political affairs of their day. The prophets’ wisdom was grounded in the harsh realities they lived through. The first prophet to warn the kings of Judah about the downfall of Jerusalem was Micah. He came from a rural area and was likely a commoner, since the name of his father is not given. Micah experienced the devastation brought by an invasion of Judah in 701 BC, and based on this terrible firsthand experience he proclaimed: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Micah 4:3-4)
Those who live through the failure of peace are usually the ones who are out in front, pointing humanity toward another way. Despite how much American culture celebrates military service, we have seen how society is capable of turning its back on those who have suffered; for example the social neglect of veterans who have become homeless. But when we support and truly honor veterans, we get to heed their warnings and learn from their experience. Veterans know firsthand the mourning, peacemaking, and persecution that Jesus calls “blessed” in the Beatitudes. The question is, are we listening?
with love, Pr. Chelsea
