Blessings of peace, mercy, and the love of Christ to all of you, my brothers and sisters.
We gather today in a world that groans under the weight of division, violence, and suffering. Yet we do not gather without hope, for we know that Christ has already conquered sin and death, and through Him, we are called to be instruments of His peace. Today, let us reflect on the trials of our time, the mission of the Church, and the urgent need for every one of us to rise as laborers in the vineyard of the Lord.
The Rock of the Church and the Call to Unity
In these days, the eyes of the world turn toward Rome, where the sacred conclave will soon gather to elect a new successor of Saint Peter. Christ promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18), and so we trust that the Holy Spirit will guide the cardinals in their solemn duty. Yet this is not merely a matter of ecclesiastical procedure—it is a moment for all the faithful to renew their commitment to the Church’s mission.
We live in an age where truth is obscured by noise, where faith is dismissed as irrelevant, and where the Church herself faces indifference, even hostility, from many corners of the world. One of the great challenges before us is the crisis of faith among our own—the weakening of belief, the drift of the baptized into apathy. The Church is not a fortress for the perfect but a hospital for sinners, and yet, too many have wandered from her embrace. Let us pray fervently for the new pope, that he may be a shepherd who unites, who heals, and who boldly proclaims the Gospel in a world starving for meaning.
The Scourge of Violence and the Cry for Justice
From Iran, we hear the cries of mourning, the shouts of anger, as lives are lost in a devastating explosion. The human heart, wounded by grief, too often turns to vengeance, but Saint Paul reminds us: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God" (Romans 12:19). Violence begets violence, and the cycle of retribution only deepens the wounds of humanity.
And in Yemen, the bodies of African migrants—men, women, perhaps even children—lie lifeless, casualties of a conflict they did not choose. The Lord commanded His people: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself" (Leviticus 19:34). How have we failed to see Christ in the stranger? How have we allowed borders to become barriers, and differences to become divisions?
A Future of Hope or a Descent into Darkness?
My dear brothers and sisters, we stand at a crossroads. If we continue down the path of indifference, if we allow hatred to fester and injustice to go unchallenged, then we will reap a harvest of ruin. Nations will crumble under the weight of their own divisions. The poor will be crushed beneath the wheels of greed. The earth itself will groan under the exploitation of human recklessness. This is not mere speculation—it is the inevitable consequence of sin unchecked.
But there is another way. Imagine a world where Christians truly lived as Christ commanded—where the hungry were fed, the stranger welcomed, the wounded healed. Imagine a world where the Church, radiant in holiness, drew all people to the light of Christ. This is not a fantasy—it is the Kingdom of God breaking into our midst, if only we have the courage to work for it.
The Call to Action
Let us begin here, today, by addressing one of the great wounds in the Body of Christ—the scandal of division within the Church herself. Too many of our brothers and sisters have grown cold in faith, have turned away from the sacraments, have allowed the noise of the world to drown out the voice of Christ. I call upon every one of you—priests, religious, lay faithful—to be missionaries in your own families, your workplaces, your communities. Invite back those who have strayed. Live with such joy and charity that others will see Christ in you.
And beyond our walls, let us be peacemakers. Let us demand justice for the oppressed, mercy for the migrant, and an end to the wars that devour the innocent. Let us be the hands of Christ in a broken world.
The Choice Before Us
The hour is late, and the time for action is now. Will we be the generation that allowed darkness to prevail? Or will we rise, as saints before us have risen, to build a civilization of love?
Saint Catherine of Siena, whose wisdom and fiery love for the Church we remember today, once said: "Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire." Let us set the world ablaze with faith, with hope, with love.
The Lord is calling. Will you answer?
Amen.
What can we do?
The world often feels heavy with suffering, division, and injustice. But even in the face of overwhelming events, each of us can take small, meaningful steps to make a difference. Here’s how we can respond practically in our daily lives:
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