Nonviolence

Nonviolence, rooted in the Sanskrit word ahimsa, transcends the simple idea of avoiding harm to any living being. Gandhi expanded this concept to encompass active, unconditional love, relentless truth-seeking, radical forgiveness, and unwavering resistance to evil. He saw nonviolence as the willingness to endure suffering for justice without seeking retaliation.

Embracing nonviolence means acknowledging our true identity as beloved children of a God of peace. Jesus emphasized this when he taught, "Blessed are the peacemakers," and instructed us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. He spoke of our inherent nature, encouraging us to embody love and peace actively.

To live nonviolently requires daily dedication to mindfulness and self-awareness. Mindfulness leads to nonviolence, while mindlessness fosters violence. Recognizing every human being as our sibling due to our shared Creator, we commit to never causing harm and standing against all forms of injustice.

Jesus exemplified perfect nonviolence, rooted in his baptismal realization of being God's beloved son. He lived faithfully to this identity, demonstrating that understanding and embracing our true selves as beloved children of God guides us to act with profound love and peace.