My last homily in New Mexico

I pray that you will not let this move slow you down as far as living the gospel in a non-violent way. And I hope that you will continue to write for the NCR.

The Gospel for this coming Monday (Memorial Day) has Jesus warning us that if we follow him, we should be ready for the consequences...these consequences are not what we normally expect of a loving relationship!! These threats sound rather "off in the distance", nothing that should upset us these days.

Yet I have seen that more and more people who really follow Jesus are suffering these consequences, usually at the hands of those who profess faith in Jesus; one has to wonder what type of faith that really is: ..."They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when [your] hour comes you may remember that I told you." (Jn 15:26-16:4a is the complete reading).

One has to wonder if our hierarchy, especially the bishops in the U.S. and even some religious superiors, really "know" the Father or Jesus or let the Holy Spirit enlighten them. We are seeing the same fundamentalism in our politics and in our Catholic Church and more and more the two are allied against those who listen to the Father, who listen to Jesus, who allow the Spirit to guide them.

Blessings on your journey, John Dear....

lord works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform

I deeply feel this loss of Father John, as a fellow New Mexican, though heis witness is required in our capital city, as EVERYWHERE

still
I deeply feel his loss in our region

DEo gratias

Wonderful sermon as always, Fr. John. May the peace and love of the nonviolent Jesus remain with you now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Thank you! Even in this difficult time, your testament to peace and non-violence is so evident in this wonderful homily. It is so true that, if we "keep our minds stayed on Jesus", we can't help but witness to justice and non-violence. Our paths crossed many years ago through Sojourners and, as I recently made the decision to join the Roman Catholic church, it has been your life and other priests and nuns who witness to the gospel in this way that have allowed me to seek my spiritual home in a church whose hierarchy seems to have forgotten the gospel message. Thank you all for demonstrating the message of the gospel in your words and deeds.

Cheer up John! Baltimore is next door to D.C., AND............The Pentagon!!!!!

Keep faithful to the message God has given you to proclaim....every attempt to expel the gospel ultimately participates in revealing it.....the seeds you have spread will produce good fruit in due season...well done good and faithful servant of Christ's peace!

I'm sorry to hear that you are leaving New Mexico.
I'm deeply concerned for the church, the people called the Body of Christ, and the people of the rest of the world too.

I almost completely with the Church using its power to pull the schaff from the wheat that it is destroying the actual foundation.

I guess I will just leave the church to its devices. The teachings of Jesus have been ignored in favor of believing that Jesus came to be treated like excrement, tortured and then slowly killed so that we don't have to change. This is not the kind of church or God that I want to have anything to do with. I'm beginning to believe that excommunication is a badge of courage and faith more than blindly following leaders who are not following a loving God.

John, I wish you the best in Maryland.

Peace

Thank you for "speaking for peace in a culture of war," Father John. So you will soon be living an hour train ride from Washington, D.C., and your Jesuit provincial perhaps thinks this might keep you out of "trouble"? Maybe you are being positioned near the heart of the beast.

No matter what you thought of the justice of your peace causes, you had no right to waste time in prison. Priests serving time in prison for political reasons is a luxury the Church cannot afford & that includes those on the pro-life side as well. Let the laity go to prison for pro-life & peace causes if conscience impels them to that end. The Church needs her priests to serve the people in the Church first & foremost, not the cons in prison! The cons need to be much lower on the list of service.

Sad to hear you are being transferred. You are speaking God's truth, losing your place where you can put your head and sleep, losing your friends that you've made, and people have spoken harshly against you. Oh wait! The four marks by which one can distinguish a prophet! He speaks God's truth (which angers the people who don't want to hear it). He has to leave his home and place of comfort where he can lay his head (like Jesus who had to leave his home and where the people of his home - neighbors - rejected him - what good can come from Nazareth?). He loses his friends (people reject what he says what he has to say and what he stands for). And finally, every prophet gets killed (by word, by complaints, by slander and detraction, on the cross - or on television, and he gets killed every day - in a brand new way. ) So, Fr. John Dear, S.J. - you are in good company. We continue to keep you in our prayers. And we continue to pray the prayer for peace, for the non-violent Jesus to be in us so that we may take the non-violent Jesus within us to others. Thank you for being one of our many everyday prophets, John.

Dear Father John
There are many many people who need to hear your message of peace in Maryland.
God Bless and good luck.
David

Well, good to know that Father will be no longer terrorizing the faithful who work at Los Alamos, and good to know that he will actually be accountable to his brother Jesuits. Hopefully this move will keep him from getting in trouble and being a nuisance to the faithful who do not agree with his dubious theological ideas about the nonviolent Jesus, ideas that do not correspond to the Church's historical and current teachings.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matt 5:10

...and besides, Father, your transfer brings you closer to where I live, in Philadelphia!

Acknowledging your faithfulness to the testimony of peace and holding you in the Light.
--liberata (member of the Religious Society of Friends)

I am greatly saddened that those who focus on war-mongering & keeping active christianity silenced have again won over those who most need justice restored to their lives by having pastors who speak the truth of the gospel message removed. I wonder who all those who would silence this message are? Given events that have been occurring around the world, I sincerely hope that, the Vatican isn't part of the silencing.

Such a beautiful homily -

Such a beautiful homily as you prepare to leave New Mexico after nine years, you must feel sad to leave but also trusting in your future as your God will go with you. Our Metrowest Pax Christi group continues to meet monthly here in Natick, and you are present each month as we read from the Questions of Jesus (being doing this for many years) as we try to deepen our faith and be with Jesus as we work for peace and justice. Know that your thoughts and words are with us.

This past weekend my five-year old granddaughter Genevieve, explained that "we can't see God, but He is in my heart. If I move over there (and she took several steps to the right), God comes with me."

So I know your God will be with you as you make this move across the country, and all will be well. Fr. John, thank you for who you are and all that you do. Blessings and best wishes in your new setting!
Judy Rich, Natick, MA

Bless you John as you go on your way of the Cross. Thank you so much for your love, faithfulness to Jesus and the Gospel. Love and prayers with you!

Well, now I guess I know why you din't make it to Kirkridge for this past weekend!! I missed you! I had wondered what was UP.Thanks for all the encouraging hints here, John! Good luck in MD. At least you'll be close to Jonah House! And, of course the Pentagon! One day at a time! I'm sure you will be missed in AZ. Welcome back East! Cheers! Love in the
Lord of us all, Elizabeth

I just don't get it. Its not like he's trying to change some major church dogma. He's simply expressing a valid apect of permisible options in Catholc social teaching- say no to violence of every kind. And for this- he gets the boot?

Someone please help me understand!

Your words are beautiful, Fr. Dear. I sense your sadness at leaving your parish but I am sure there will be wonderful, and challenging, things to come in your new digs. I am sure you have had an impact on the New Mexico corner of the world where you were...I can't believe hundreds of letters of complaint against you were filed but don't be discouraged. Even if there was only one person in the area who heeded your word (and I'm sure there were many many more), but even if there was only one, it was worth it. Thanks again for your lovely writings.

I do not say this arrogantly or angrily, rather i am trying to import this understanding gently and lovingly. In anger we impede and exclude ourselves from others and ourselves,for it becomes about the individuals point of view their ego. This is why no one religion of past has become accepted by all humanity, for there is exclusion in anger, exclusion in the anger that has been imbued in a personified God, and the sophistry of Your Truth. It is not in your truth, humanity will be freed. It is in our truth, humanity's truth, in which there is no exclusion, that is THE TRUTH, GODS TRUTH...Gods love transforms our anger realising love fulfilling the intended... Fulfill the intended...

This is a very positive talk. There is no bitterness here. That speaks well for John Dear SJ. I think he will be happy when he moves away. Peace in the world is important, but not the job of one man. Peace of mind is important too.

Fr. Dear,

First of all, I should make it clear that I do not agree with all of your pacifist philosophy. Having said that, you come from a long line of Jesuit/Franciscan holy priests who have repeatedly preached the gospel of non-violence, in this country (see the civil rights era of the 60's) and of the world.

My own Godfather, Brother Bob Hollingsworth, SJ was my Dad's best friend growing up together in Linton, IN and he went down to Brazil and literaly built a vocational school for the poor brick by brick for the poor and dispossesed using his training as a bricklayer. He was out of the New Orleans Province and was buried there after 40 yrs of service to the poor.

I am truly saddened that you have been run out of NM and I am even more disturbed that your superiors are countenancing the complaints. I can't fathom St. Igatious doing such a thing. I believe that it is vitally important that those who are at the forefront of military power, be they soldiers, technicians, design engineers, or whatever be held into contact with God's word as it relates to their decision to participate in the armaments industry.

My own Dad worked as an electrical engineer in the defense industry. He helped design the listening posts in the Sinai Desert that implemented the Sinai Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel. Never again could a nation run their tanks across that desert at night without the other country knowing it. On the other hand, he played a big role in developing the original lasar guided missiles fired from a fighter plane at a strategic target. Yes, these missiles have killed many, but they saved many lives of American pilots who could fire their missiles out of range of enemy fire.

But as good Catholics, my father and myself agree that it was always important to listen to what the pacifists of our Church had to say, as it helped us to form our conscience, even if we did not agree totally with the messenger. It is this latter function of a holy priest as yourselt that will be sorely missing from NM and in that regard, I think your superiors are making a heck of a mistake in kow-towing to the critics and sending you back east.

It is the people of New Mexico who will suffer when the old phrase "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone" comes to life for them. But there are many of us here in the mid-Atlantic who will welcome you with open hearts and minds. Pax et bonum to you my brother in Christ. Welcome the perfect joy of conversion!

A deep thank you to you John for posting these words...many much needed reminders in there for me personally and I'm sure so many...thank you.

Fr. John,

May God walk with you. You, too, have been tagged by the Temple Police who seem to feel that the Beatitudes that Christ gave us----are for everyone else, but them.

May you be at peace and may the good work that you have done---bear much fruit.

Thank you John, for sharing your homily. It really does say it all for those trying to be Christian, followers of Jesus. Blessings in your new location, closer to Washington D.C. where you will continue to make a difference.

"Blessed are the peacemakers..." "Love one another..."

It's sad that once again, the church has bowed to the pressure of the world while preaching that we should not. Thank you for spreading the message of peace, the message of Jesus.

Response to what Rev. Father Dear wrote:
Once again, I am dealing with the life-disrupting consequences of speaking for peace in a culture of war.
And:
Their campaign has worked.
My Response:
A lot of us Christians have had our lives “completely disrupted” because of other people’s “evil behavior.” I know that I have. It’s our cross to bear, living in this sinful world. Also, Rev. Father Dear should never forget that those same people who waged their “campaign” again him, may think that they have “won” the campaign. But here’s something to think about: I certainly wouldn’t want to be in their shoes when they are going to have to answer to Jesus on Judgement day, about their “evil behavior” or “evil campaign.”
Matthew 25 RSV- Catholic version
31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
2 Corinthians 5 RSV- Catholic version
________________________________________
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

Another thing, Rev. Father Dear should never forget that in Heaven, he is going to receive many Crowns and rewards, for all of his hard work and service for Jesus and his fellow man.
See Bible verses and LINK:
Revelation 22 RSV- Catholic version
________________________________________
12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done.

Mark 10 RSV- Catholic version
________________________________________
29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

LINK:
http://www.bible-knowledge.com/rewards-in-heaven/

As someone who was born in 1942 in the midst of bombs falling in Germany during WWII , I value your "walking the walk" of the non-violent Jesus and speaking out, one of the few "voices crying in the desert", against war and nuclear annihilation. As someone whose life was formed and evolved in the crucible of war and its many consequences, including immigration to America, I understand and appreciate your work even more. I wish each and every person who has ever been effected by war directly or indirectly would walk beside you and support you as you confront war and the military industrial complex of war, whether it is in New Mexico, at the Pentagon or on Wall Street. Your work reminds me of a small, a very small statue of a pilgrim, mid-way between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column in Berlin. Around the base of this pilgrim statue are the words in German, which I will translate into English...."I wander through the world crying, Peace, Peace, Peace.....you are not a stone statue but a real live person who is doing exactly that. You can easily miss this small statue in the same way that many people miss and are not aware of your work. We are always looking at the "larger" more important things, and miss what is truly important. Having just moved to the Philadelphia area, I look forward to your being close by in Baltimore. As a child, I was also moved to a new home and must admit that I had no great desire to leave my extended family and friends to move to America and yet God has worked powerfully in my life here, especially as it relates to healing the psychic wounds of my childhood war experiences. Perhaps our paths will cross while you are here in the Baltimore area.

I have followed the career of Father John for some time now. It seems to me that if he is being removed from his parish and sent to a Jesuit Retreat House it is not really because of his stand for peace, but because of his overblown ego and self-righteousness.

I have followed the career of John Dear for some years now and have been concerned about his very one-dimension view of Chirst, as most pacifists that use Christ as the ostensibe basis for their work seem to have. If he was removed from his post it was not, I believe, because of his work for peace, but becasue his ego, self-righteousness and judgmentalism.

A quote by Sir Joseph Rotblat, who “left Los Alamos {New Mexico} in December 1944 for conscience’s sake and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995 for decades of nuclear disarmament leadership.”
http://www.lasg.org/DisarmImperative.htm
Quote: “Morality,” he wrote, “is at the core of the nuclear issue: are we going to base our world on a culture of peace or on a culture of war? Nuclear weapons are fundamentally immoral: their action is indiscriminate, affecting civilians as well as military, innocents and aggressors alike, killing people alive now and generations as yet unborn. And the consequence of their use could bring the human race to an end.” He ended his appeal with his oft-repeated plea, “Remember your humanity.”
http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2005/09/01_krieger_sir-joseph-rotbla...

Thank you Fr John for your courageous witness to the gospel of Peace, despite the cost.

I'm sure that the God of Peace has work for you in Baltimore.

Keep up the good work and remember what JPII constantly said : "Do Not Be Afraid".

God Bless

My life has been touched for the better by your words of wisdom and most importantly by your witness. Although, I do not live in New Mexico I feel a sadness because you are leaving and I thank you for sharing a homily of love and trust in the non-violence of Jesus. Ah' but the wisdom of the Spirit; for every door that closes five more are opened. Peace to you and us all.

I can sympathize with your having to leave New Mexico because I had to as well, but the important thing is that you will be much closer to the source of the funding that keeps Los Alamos afloat. Even a pacifist warrior has to know when it's time to target the heart rather than the fingers.

As a member of a small Pax Christi group many miles away in New Zealand your words have been a source of wisdom and inspiration. Thankyou for your absolute committment to nonviolence. While it is upsetting to be undermind by your own Superiors, and other Catholics I trust this move will prove to be positive in the long term.Please continue your column in NCR- it brings strength to many in times of adversity and challenge. Kia Kaha Fr John

The bishop of Los Alamos lost the prophetic moment to declare fully the Gospel of Jesus and caved in to the death-dealing military interests in silencing our great and Reverend John Dear SJ, ejecting this true Catholic from the diocese.

This bishop must render an accounting for how he chose death over life, war over peace, the cult and creation of violence over the realization of the Gospel.

Wonderfully said by Bev smith in New Zealand. Your homily is so
inspirational. I am sure your move is God's work.....He has other
plans for you. But please keep writing.................it is a gift.
You say it so well. You can reach so many around the world.
Thank you.

I am sorry you are receiving this backlash. Its a sign that your words have made others uncomfortable. So much so that they don't want to hear your words again. Jesus also made "them" uncomfortable but It is no longer fashionable to crucify, so they banished you. I know your heart is aching, but do not let this throw you off. It is simply a sign that your message has been heard and has been effective. The seeds have been planted, God will take care of the rest. Now He/She needs you somewhere else.

Peace,

Lourdes

I feel the need to add my wishes for your future to all the others before me. While others rejoice that you're geographically nearer the heart of the war-beast I rejoice in the fact that you're nearer Dan Berrigan in his late years. May you continue to support and challenge each other as well as everyone with whom you both come in contact. May your brother Jesus continue to lead you (both) into the unknown future.

My wife and I are active in Pax Christi because of your visit to our Northwoods Wisconsin parish. We know that you'll find more ways to help encourage people to work for peace.

Father John was effective maybe too effective.

First the supporters of war just ignored him.
When that does not work, they ridicule him.
When that does not work, they get rid of him.

At least this is not El Salvador.

I hope that the following constructive criticism will be read and considered. I worked in the defense industry myself for fifteen years before switching careers.

First of all, consider that not everything done at Los Alamos is weapons related. The people who work there are not evil.

Second, please realize that if your parishioners who work at the labs would follow your wishes and actually make career changes, realize that those changes would be at least as disruptive to their lives as the move that you are now complaining about.

Trust that your acts of non-violent civil disobedience have planted seeds, and that people smart enough to work at the labs do not live unexamined lives.

Finally, you might add credibility to your stands on non-violence and human rights by focusing some attention on the culture of violence within the Roman Catholic Church. I am referring of course, to the structural violence and crimes against women and children. By ignoring or minimizing the sexual abuse perpetrated and enabled by their own church, Catholic peace activists are inconsistent and lose all credibility-- just as their church hierarchy has lost all moral authority.