Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters, on this holy Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, as we gather in the light of the Risen Christ.
Today, we stand at a crossroads—a moment in history where the cries of the suffering echo across the world, where violence and injustice cast long shadows over the human family, and where the Church herself is called to be a beacon of hope in the darkest of nights. The Lord has entrusted us with a sacred mission: to be His hands and feet in a broken world, to bring healing where there is pain, justice where there is oppression, and love where there is hatred.
The Cry of Gaza: A Test of Our Humanity
In Gaza, the children of God starve. Mothers cradle their infants, trembling from hunger, while fathers search in vain for bread. The words of our Savior in Matthew 25 ring with piercing urgency: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." These are not mere words—they are a divine command. When we turn away from the suffering of our brothers and sisters, we turn away from Christ Himself.
Imagine, dear faithful, a world where no child goes to bed hungry. A world where nations lay down their weapons and instead extend hands of mercy. This is not a dream—it is the Kingdom of God breaking into our midst, but only if we choose to build it. If we do not act, if we remain indifferent, then we will answer before the throne of the Almighty for the lives we failed to save.
The Scourge of Violence: When Will We Learn?
In Ukraine, a bus is struck by missiles, and nine souls are lost. Seven more lie wounded. The Psalmist cries out: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Yet how many more must weep before we say, Enough? War is the failure of humanity, the triumph of hatred over love.
But picture, if you will, a world where swords are beaten into plowshares. A world where leaders seek peace instead of power, where forgiveness triumphs over vengeance. This is the world Christ died to bring about—but it will not come unless we, the faithful, demand it with our voices, our prayers, and our actions.
The Chains of Injustice: Will We Break Them?
In a Russian-controlled court, an Australian man is sentenced to 13 years for standing with the oppressed. Isaiah’s words thunder through the ages: "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed." When tyranny flourishes, when the innocent are imprisoned, the Church cannot remain silent.
Envision a world where justice flows like a river, where no one is persecuted for defending the weak. This is the world God desires—but it will not come unless we rise up, unless we refuse to let evil go unchallenged.
The Church’s Struggle: A Call to Renewal
Yet even as we look outward, we must also look inward. One of the great trials of our time is the weakening of faith among our own. So many drift away, lured by the empty promises of the world. The Church must be a home for the lost, a light in the darkness. We must rebuild trust through radical love, through service, through unshakable fidelity to the Gospel.
A Choice Between Two Futures
My dear brothers and sisters, we stand at the edge of two paths. One leads to a world redeemed—where the hungry are fed, wars cease, and justice reigns. The other leads to ruin—a world where indifference allows suffering to multiply, where hatred consumes nations, where the Church grows silent.
The choice is ours. Will we be the generation that heeds the call of Christ? Or will history remember us as those who stood by while the world burned?
Let us leave this place today not merely as hearers of the Word, but as doers. Let us pray, yes—but let us also act. Let us give, let us speak, let us fight for justice. For the Kingdom of God is at hand, and it is through our hands that He will build it.
Amen.
What can we do?
The suffering in our world can feel overwhelming, but each of us has the power to make a difference—right where we are, with what we have. Here’s how we can act in practical ways to bring light into these dark situations:
1. Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
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