Put Down Your Pistols

Last week's gathering at Friendship Park took place under the distant cloud of unfolding war in the Middle East.  People living along the U.S.-Mexico border share a peculiar solidarity with people living in Israel and Palestine - a solidarity born from living in a part of the world where national boundaries correspond very poorly to the geographical and demographic "facts on the ground" and where the land has been marred by the construction of massive, high-tech "security infrastructure" - or if you, prefer, "walls."



Israel-Palestine

US-Mexico

But, as is always the case at the Border Church, we found cause for celebration even in the midst of difficult times. The day before our friends from the Bi-National Garden at Friendship Park participated in a grassroots celebration of non-violence that is taking place across the nation of Mexico. Palas por Pistolas (Shovels for Pistols) is a project to curb the trade of small weapons.  In a first campaign in Culiacán, a city in western Mexico, 1527 guns have been melted and made into 1527 shovels to plant 1527 trees. This is the shovel that was used to plant a tree last weekend at Friendship Park: 

Photo credit: Maria Teresa Fernandez

When the time came for communion, I asked Dan Watman to share the story of Palas por Pistolas and then I read the story from the Bible in which Jesus is apprehended the night before his death.  When one of his disciples steps up to fight off the soldiers who have come to take him away, Jesus tells him:  "Put down your sword." (Matthew 26:52)

The instruction is simple, direct, uncomplicated.  It is a command.  And were Jesus alive and kicking around the US-Mexico border - or around the conflict-ridden Middle East - I have little doubt that he would issue the very same command to his followers today.

So last Sunday I invited those participating at the Border Church to "put down their swords,"  to "turn their pistolas into palas," and  to work for peace.  And I prayed this prayer, which I invite you to pray with me now:

God, we thank you that you are always seeking peace, and we ask that you would fashion in us a similar disposition.  Help us to see the ways in which we build up enmity and anger and resentment - in our families, in our communities, in our nations.  Forgive us our habit of seeing divisions where none exist, and for seeking war when alternatives abound.  Thank you, God, for sending your prophets, who challenged the powerful in their day to beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, and for sending Jesus, who told his closest friends to put down their swords.  And thank you for all those who follow in these footsteps in our day, who walk the path of peace.  In your Holy name we pray. Amen.