Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Today, as we gather under the gaze of our merciful Lord, we must confront the great trials of our time—trials that test our faith, our compassion, and our resolve to be instruments of God’s love in a wounded world. The Scriptures remind us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Yet, we see before us a world fractured by war, where leaders refuse to sit at the table of reconciliation, where the cries of the innocent go unheard amid the clamor of pride and power. In Ukraine, in Gaza, in every corner where violence reigns, the children of God are suffering. But we must ask ourselves: Are we truly peacemakers? Or have we grown numb to the distant echoes of their pain?
Look upon Gaza, where mothers cradle starving children, where the most basic human dignity—food, shelter, safety—is stripped away. Christ Himself speaks to us through these little ones: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink” (Matthew 25:35). How can we call ourselves followers of Jesus if we turn away from such suffering? The blockade must end, not only by the hands of politicians but by the relentless voice of the faithful demanding justice. Let us not be like the rich man who ignored Lazarus at his gate. Let us instead be the Good Samaritan, binding wounds and refusing to pass by.
And what of justice? In courtrooms and prisons, in the shadows where the powerful silence the weak, we hear the weeping of those like Casandra Ventura, whose voice trembles as she recounts her torment. The Book of Proverbs commands us: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Proverbs 31:8). How many more must suffer before we, as a Church, rise as defenders of the oppressed? The Gospel is not a passive word—it is a call to action, a demand that we tear down the structures of abuse and exploitation wherever they fester.
Yet, even as we labor for peace, for dignity, for justice, we must acknowledge the wounds within our own Church. Scandal, division, and a loss of trust have weakened our witness. Too many of the faithful have turned away, disillusioned by our failures. But Christ does not abandon His Church—He purifies it through fire. And so, I call upon each of you: Be part of that purification. Hold your shepherds accountable, but do not abandon the flock. Serve with humility, pray with fervor, and demand holiness—not only from your leaders but from yourselves.
Imagine, dear brothers and sisters, a world where the followers of Christ truly lived as He commanded. A world where wars cease because we refuse to fuel hatred, where no child starves because we refuse to tolerate indifference, where no voice is silenced because we refuse to be complicit in injustice. This is not a dream—it is the Kingdom of God breaking into our midst. But it will not come without sacrifice.
And if we fail? If we choose comfort over courage, silence over solidarity? Then we will inherit a world darker still—a world where the cries of the oppressed go unanswered, where conflict consumes nations, where the Church becomes a hollow echo of the Gospel rather than its living embodiment. Do not deceive yourselves: God’s justice will not sleep forever. The time to act is now.
So rise, my brothers and sisters. Rise as peacemakers, as defenders of the poor, as voices for the voiceless. Let the world see in us the love of Christ—not in empty words, but in deeds that shake the foundations of injustice. The Lord walks with us. He will not abandon us. But He asks: Will you abandon Him in the least of His children?
Amen.
What can we do?
Peace and Conflict Resolution
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