Two energies unleashed: One destructive, one revelatory

Images of light flash in my mind. Life-changing, history-changing occurrences. One is destructive, the other revelatory. It’s difficult to juxtapose them; hold them at the same time. Yet, that is what is asked of me, of us, this day.

Today, August 6, marks the 69th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration.

Both events unleashed huge amounts of energy which continue to reverberate through the universe.

Both speak to us about relationship.

Some took the energy unleashed by the bombing of Hiroshima and made even more and larger nuclear bombs. They took it and ran with it, right into the nuclear arms race. Maybe the power unfurled was enticing, perhaps frightening, leading to the twisted notion that the only way to stop this madness was by building more and bigger bombs than anyone else.

On this 69th anniversary there are now nine nuclear powers stockpiling enough weapons to destroy the world many times over – and at an enormous price, draining resources from humanitarian purposes. All of the nuclear powers have plans to modernize their weapons and production, assuring a future for nuclear weapons for years to come. World expenditures for nuclear weapons are estimated to top $1 trillion over the next decade, with the U.S. alone projected to spend over $600 billion.

Money expenditures can’t measure the enormous toll this is taking on our psyche, our soul, our international relations, our Earth.

It all comes home for me, as later this month a new multi-billion dollar plant that manufactures 85 percent of the parts for U.S. nuclear weapons will be dedicated here in Kansas City.

Nuclear weapons with their power to destroy all of humanity and Earth are the ultimate disruption of relationship.

But some who saw the devastation of the bombing of Hiroshima turned their energy toward healing, working for disarmament and abolishing nuclear weapons. They are uncovering information and raising awareness. They are making concrete action plans, filing lawsuits and creating movements. Here is a sampling of what they are about:

1. The Republic of the Marshall Islands filed a lawsuit on April 24, 2014, in the International Court of Justice in The Hague against the nine nuclear nations for not carrying out their obligations to disarm under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty of 1968 and international law. Nuclear Age Peace Foundation has been involved with the suit and is watching the developments. They have a monthly newsletter with updates about nuclear weapons issues.
2. Nuke Watch researches what’s happening here in the U.S. with weapons production. They have a wealth of in-depth resources.
3. The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki started a worldwide movement, Mayors for Peace and Vision 2020, for the abolishment of nuclear weapons. See if your mayor is for peace. Convince your mayor to sign on.
4. Global Zero is also building an international movement of influential political, military, business, civic and faith leaders, along with grassroots people. They have developed a step-by-step plan for disarmament.

Today, on the Feast of the Transfiguration, we are reminded that Love Energy is available to us. In the gospel for this day, Jesus was heading toward his execution. Peter, James and John were having a hard time understanding what was happening. On the way, they had a “mountain top” experience. Jesus’s identity and relationship was revealed as “Beloved Son.” They were directed to “listen to him.”  

Listen to what he says; listen to the message he lives; listen to who he is. Learn that the Son joins us all to one another. Behold a glimpse of resurrection. Open to the power of transformation. Unleash the power of love. Come to know all as beloved.

[Jan Cebula, OSF, is liaison to women religious in the United States for Global Sisters Report.]