It’s fair and proper to say that anyone who professes to believe in the name of the only Son of God, and then proceeds to perform acts of violence, does not in truth believe in the name of the only Son of God. Such actions would be radically inconsistent and offensive to believing in the name of the only Son of God. Whereas on the other hand, it would be correct, accurate, proper and truthful to say that anyone who professes to believe in the name of the only Son of God and seeks the ways of peace, then this belief and practice is consistent with believing in the name of the only Son of God. God accepts that person’s belief, rather than rejecting the claim of such belief when followed by violence. When Jesus could have called forth 10,000 legions of angels who could have wiped out the entire Roman army, he held back. He didn’t make the call to heaven. He kept his cell phone shut off, like I wish everyone would do when they come to Church. He stood before his accusers from his own race and nation, and he stood before the governing figure of Pontius Pilate, like a sheep. A sheep about to be sheered, not only of their precious wool, but their entire body. Jesus clearly saw the violence of crucifixion before him, and he didn’t make the call for angels to violently stop it. The reason – one reason – why Christ didn’t make the call to heaven for 10,000 legions of angels with swords to fly down to take care of business and save him from the hands of evil men, is because he is the Prince of Peace. If the Lord made that call for countless angels to wipe out these people who filled themselves with their own egos, the title Prince of Peace would today be scoffed at. It would be sneered at, like they sneered at Jesus as he hung on the Cross. The title Prince of Peace would be a false representation of the God-Man who so loved the world, who came to us to save, and not condemn. In times like these, between the double curse of a widespread virus and many looters and rioters, we must remember who we are and who we follow. Who we are disciples of. We’re disciples of the One who laid down his life for us rather than wipe out his opponents. At the end of Jesus’ life that he freely gave, all those people had no idea who they were dealing with. It’s like Jesus was wearing a mask, and they couldn’t recognize the Lord of all. For if he was seen for who he was, and who he is, then they, including Pilate, would have fallen on their knees and sought in the most earnest way his mercy. And, he would have freely given it. In the boundless generosity of The Most Holy Trinity, God so loved the world, he so loved us, that he gave his only Son. What did he give, in giving his Son? He gave peace over violence. He gave salvation over condemnation. He gave mercy over continued bitterness. He gave love over hate. He shut off his cell phone, put it in his robe, and gave us a way on how to relate to one another. All of this points to something greater that awaits. In times like these, I pray we heed the words of St. Paul in today’s reading that is perfectly timed, as is all Scripture: “Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” Isn’t this what we desire so much? For the God of love and peace to be with us when surrounded by so much hatred, violence, and confusion? Paul’s words to the Corinthians speak to the here and now. But they look to eternal life, where those words are realized. We remember who we are in these times because our Savior remembered who he was when surrounded by the violence and hatred of his accusers. His title Prince of Peace remained because he didn’t make the call, and he did not perform actions that would have been inconsistent with God so loving the world. The truest message of violence says, “I hate the world.” Not just the way the world is with all its injustice. Violence says, I hate God’s creation. Not because of an injustice perpetrated that most people can agree goes against our better nature. The truest meaning of violence from a Christian perspective is, “I hate the world because I hate my life and I hate myself.” What we see in Christ is a Divine Person who loved his life, loved himself in the purest way, and loved the world he created and called forth. A broken world he came to, not to condemn, but to save. This is who we follow. He is the Prince of Peace because, when he could have chosen the violent answer, he kept his cell phone in his pocket. A phone that was never turned on to begin with.