Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters, on this holy Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, as we gather in the light of the Risen Lord to reflect on our sacred duty to the world and to one another.
Today, we stand at a crossroads—not merely as a Church, but as a global family. The challenges before us are immense, but so too is the power of Christ working through us. The world cries out for justice, for compassion, for leadership that does not waver in the face of fear or self-interest. And in this moment, we are called to answer that cry with courage and unwavering faith.
The Noble Task of Leadership
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, reminds us that leadership in the Church—and indeed, in all spheres of life—is a sacred trust. "Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task." Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, steps into this role at a time when the world hungers for moral clarity. His early words and actions give us hope—hope that the Church will continue to be a beacon of truth in a world too often clouded by division and self-interest.
But leadership is not only for popes and bishops. It is for each of us. In our families, in our workplaces, in our communities, we must embody the virtues Paul describes: temperance, self-control, hospitality, and above all, love. For if we do not lead with Christ’s love, who will? If we do not stand for justice, who will?
The Cry of the Stranger
The Lord speaks to us through Leviticus with a commandment that echoes across the ages: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." How starkly this divine instruction contrasts with the voices of fear and exclusion that rise in our world today!
Pope Leo XIV has reminded us that the Church does not belong to any one nation, any one people. We are universal—Catholic—and our love must extend beyond borders, beyond politics, beyond the narrow interests of power. The immigrant, the refugee, the displaced—these are not problems to be solved but brothers and sisters to be welcomed. If we turn them away, if we harden our hearts, we betray the very Gospel we proclaim.
The Defense of the Defenseless
And what of those whose voices are silenced? What of those who languish in darkness, deprived of justice? Proverbs commands us: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." The very notion of suspending habeas corpus—the right to challenge one’s imprisonment—is a direct assault on human dignity. It is the first step toward tyranny, toward a world where power crushes the weak without accountability.
The Church cannot remain silent. We must be the voice of the voiceless, the defenders of the oppressed. For if we do not resist injustice now, where will it end? If we do not stand for the rule of law today, what will remain of freedom tomorrow?
A Call to Action
Yet, my brothers and sisters, the greatest crisis facing the Church today is not only these external threats—it is the indifference of the faithful. Too many have grown comfortable, too many have turned inward, content to let the world burn so long as their own homes are safe. But the Gospel does not permit such complacency.
We must act. We must pray, yes, but we must also move. Support organizations that defend the marginalized. Advocate for just policies. Challenge hatred when it rises in your own communities. And above all, live as Christ lived—with radical love, fearless truth, and unshakable hope.
The Choice Before Us
The path ahead is clear. If we rise to this moment, if we embrace our calling with courage, then by God’s grace, we will see a world transformed—a world where the stranger is welcomed, where the oppressed are freed, where leaders govern with wisdom and mercy.
But if we fail? If we turn away? Then darkness will deepen. Injustice will spread like a plague. The weak will be crushed, the truth will be silenced, and the world will become a colder, crueler place. This is not mere speculation—it is the warning of history, the consequence of human sin left unchecked.
Yet I do not preach despair, for our hope is in Christ! He has conquered death itself, and through Him, we can conquer the evils of this age. Let us go forth, then, as bearers of His light. Let us be the hands that lift up the fallen, the voices that speak for the silenced, the hearts that refuse to let love be extinguished.
For the Lord is with us, and with Him, all things are possible.
Amen.
What can we do?
The world faces complex challenges—political divisions, the treatment of immigrants, and threats to basic human rights. But change doesn’t only come from leaders; it grows from the daily choices of ordinary people. Here’s how we can contribute in practical ways:
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