Many socio-political revolutions helped each other with religious slogans. They wanted to help the poor, establish justice, give education to the uneducated, and punish the rich. These slogans influenced entire nations. But the reality was different then. Let’s remember, for example, the French Revolution. The revolutionary people of Paris demolished the walls of the famous prison of Bastille. They freed a few prisoners, but soon, new prisons were filled with many political opponents, and the cruelty of the revolution knew no peace. Or let’s remember the Bolshevik revolution in Tsarist Russia. The communists sent millions of innocent people to the camps, and instead of freedom and a better life, fear, cruelty, hunger, and death reigned in Russia. The collaborators of leader Stalin themselves also lived in fear, not knowing whether they would still be in politics the next day or even live. Jesus reads the words of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue of Nazareth: „ The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he anointed me to preach good news to the poor; he sent me to proclaim liberation to the captives and vision to the blind; release the oppressed and announce the gracious year of the Lord. Then Jesus added that it applied to him. They were also significant and revolutionary words.
Also, their meaning was different from what the various revolutionaries gave them. Above all, they were supposed to make a spiritual revolution in human hearts. Jesus knew that no society could improve without this spiritual revolution. You may say that they were in the history of the period when Christians fought for their interests with sword and blood. It is true, but the Church disapproves of it today. More often, however, the idea of Jesus prevailed in the history of the Church. Although evaluating the past is complex, the unequivocal present is more important. The Church strives, evidenced by the words, letters, and actions of many of the last popes, who encouraged that even the most conflicting situations in and between neighboring states be resolved peacefully through dialogue, concessions, and agreements.
Except for military tensions, which are still found in our world today, we are witnessing revolutionary tensions and tunes of another kind. Many people and various organizations are waging their revolutions. They are revolutionary, e.g., attuned conservationists. The enemies of the so-called are revolutionized—world globalization, which is hindered by strong economic colossi. Proponents of gay marriage are revolutionized. Those who fear overpopulation and fight to limit the birth rate are revolutionary. Various groups of young people are revolutionary, e.g., anarchists and skins. Some revolutions helped each other with religious ideas, while others were against God and man. Some also have their meaning; others are meaningless and disrupt the stability of society and often God’s order in the world.
The church sincerely cares that peace, understanding, and order reign. However, the Gospel is always addressed to a specific person at any time and in any society. He must decide to allow the „spiritual revolution” in his heart. Without these personal revolutions, improving the quality of life on earth is impossible. Because even the best revival ideas will degenerate when people do not have peace within themselves; at the same time, revolutionary views will be promoted that will harm society because people will not be able to assess their impact. And that is again because their life is not enshrined in the Gospel, and they cannot judge what is good or bad. That is why today, Jesus addresses the question to each of us: have we already made a revolution in our lives? Do any sins no longer control us? Do we know exactly what God wants on this earth and how we should help him do it? It is sad when evangelical ideas become slogans of irresponsible revolutionaries. Let them become revolutionary in our hearts.
