Following Jesus' Way of Nonviolence

We are disciples of the Risen Christ. We live in the light of the Paschal Mystery flowing from Jesus’ nonviolent stand against evil and his passionate commitment to love. We must help each other resist the world’s despair, anger, and apathy that justify and normalize violence. Let us work together for nonviolent solutions to everyday and global conflicts.

1. Invite participants to take turns reciting parts of the opening prayer, Be Reconciled.

2. Reflect on the power of love with Bishop Frank Caggiano by viewing the video Love Confirms Dignity.

3. Invite participants to share acts of love they have witnessed in daily life and in the news.

4. Share the presentation Promoting Peace to guide reflection and discussion about Jesus’ call to love through peacemaking.

5. Share a moving story of peacemaking by viewing the video The Laundromat, by the Paulist Fathers.

6. Proclaim these Scripture passages about love:

Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. (Matthew 7:12)

Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31)

You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27; see also Matthew 22:37–40 and Mark 12:39–31)

7. Encourage participants to reflect upon the universality of Jesus’ call to love by sharing various versions of the Golden Rule. Provide paper and art supplies to create colorful and inspirational posters of Golden Rule sayings. Invite participants to take turns presenting their posters to the group. Then display the posters throughout your school or parish or give the posters as gifts.

8. For the closing prayer, lead a communal reading of The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2–4).

9. Invite all to share a sign of peace.