Peace Walk

As it happened, this week two of my great friends mentioned the Buddhist monks and their dog Aloka walking for peace. I had heard about the walk but had not really been following it. . . I will be now! And want to share two gifts - I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do:

Dana Catharine, artist, author, teacher and a friend for 50+ years sent her drawing of Aloka.

Rebecca McElhone, a licensed lay preacher in the Diocese of Easton and a friend of many years, sent a copy of her sermon for today.

[This Sunday's Scripture Readings: OT: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 5-13; Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23].

When preachers prepare a homily or sermon, we read the lectionary for the assigned readings for the particular Sunday we will be sharing the good news with you, the listener. It might be a word or a sentence or just the central theme of the readings. Sometimes it’s the Collect that is shared before the readings for any particular Sunday. It might even be what’s happening in the world at the moment.
This morning, the Gospel reading from Matthew has Jesus walking by the Sea of
Galilee and sees two brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew. Jesus encourages them
to, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” In verse 23, Matthew tells us
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and proclaiming the
good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and sickness among the
people. Jesus’ message for the people 2000 years ago and for the people of today
is proclaiming the good news, peace, love, kindness, compassion. These verses
reminded me of an event that is occurring in this country at this time.
For those on social media, you may have been following the Buddhist monks Walk
for Peace that began on October 26, 2025 from Ft. Worth, Texas and is scheduled
to conclude in Washington, DC mid-February. The monks are walking this entire
distance, 2300 miles, along with their dog, Aloka and have traveled through
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, before reaching Virginia
and Washington, DC.
Now, if you’re wondering where I’m going with this, the idea of these monks
walking throughout the southern United States for peace and meeting people
along the way, showed me some similarities of Jesus walking throughout his
ministry spreading the same message of love, kindness, compassion, humility.
Throughout this walk for peace, people have been present along the routes the
monks have walked, met them at their rest periods, offered them food or water, a
place to spend the night, flowers, or just to be in their presence to hear words of
wisdom or receive a blessing. To be welcomed by those who are welcoming.
Does this sound familiar? The people in Jesus’ time following him, offering him
food and a place to stay, just being in his presence. Receiving a blessing, a healing
of a physical ailment or a spiritual hurt. To hear words of wisdom or comfort. To
be welcomed by those who needed to be welcomed by him.
And before we get into the monks don’t believe in Jesus or God, well, that’s ok
too. We each find our way to the path we are destined to take. I am a believer,
but I can also look at other faiths or beliefs with an open mind. And watching
some of the views on Facebook there have been people along the way that have
confronted the monks with these very thoughts; they’ll go to hell because they
don’t believe. Jesus faced these same people thousands of years ago, they didn’t
believe in him as the Messiah. The monks faced these people with kindness and
compassion and without anger and in my heart and mind, I think Jesus probably
faced his enemies the same way. And, it’s just possible, Jesus would be walking
and meditating right along with his brother monks.
I think of us here at St. Andrew’s. We have studied icons and how they can impact
your spiritual life, read about the Celts during Advent studies, read The Sabbath by
Abraham Joshua Heschel, used the Jerusalem Bible and other translations during
Bible study, used books written by Baptists and Methodists for Advent and Lenten
studies. I don’t know about you, but I have received lots of information using
these other sources. And I am learning from these monks and their view of
peace, love, and kindness. Peace begins with you and me. One of the take aways
they give is this. Write “Today will be my peaceful day.” Read it and then say the
words out loud. Even if you have to say it every hour of the day, let it bring you
peace.
These monks are not trying to convert people to Buddhism; they are offering
peace. And isn’t that what we all need? Peace in our hearts and souls, peace in
our lives. One final thing on their Facebook page, “May you and all beings be well,
happy, and at peace”. How can we take offense with those words?
Lent will soon be upon us and I think my Lenten practice this year will be to pull
my copy of The Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop
Desmond Tutu and read it with intention this time.
My wish for all of us is peace, joy, compassion, and love.
Amen.