Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Today, we gather under the gaze of the Almighty, who calls us to be instruments of His love in a world fractured by division, indifference, and injustice. The Word of God echoes through the ages, reminding us of our sacred duty: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9) Yet, in Gaza, in Ukraine, in the forgotten corners of our societies, the cries of the suffering rise like incense before the throne of Heaven. Will we answer?
The Scourge of War and the Call to Peace
The Holy Land bleeds once more. A blockade lifted only after ten weeks of hunger, a new offensive announced even as bread is allowed to pass—these are not signs of victory, but of humanity’s failure to embrace the path of reconciliation. The children of Abraham, both Israeli and Palestinian, are caught in an endless cycle of retaliation. But Christ did not say, "Blessed are the victors," He said, "Blessed are the peacemakers."
Imagine, dear brothers and sisters, a world where swords are beaten into plowshares, where enemies break bread instead of bones. This is not a dream—it is our divine mandate. If we do not labor for peace, if we do not demand justice tempered with mercy, then the fires of hatred will consume us all. The choice is stark: build bridges, or watch the world burn.
The Cry of the Poor and the Groaning of the Earth
Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has sounded the alarm: the poor are trampled, and the earth, our common home, is plundered. "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith?" (James 2:5) Yet, how often do we pass by Lazarus at our gate, too preoccupied with our own comfort to hear his cries?
The poor are not statistics—they are Christ in disguise. The polluted rivers, the smothered skies—they are the wounds of Creation itself, crying out for healing. We must act, not with empty words, but with radical love. Feed the hungry. Shelter the homeless. Defend the forests and the seas. If we do not, the earth will rebel against us, and future generations will curse our names for our silence.
The Sin of Injustice and the Demand for Dignity
In India, the name PK Rosy is a testament to the cruelty of caste, to the sin of dehumanizing another child of God. The prophet Micah cries out to us even now: "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) Yet how many Rosys still suffer, unseen, unheard?
Racism, caste oppression, the exploitation of migrants—these are not merely social ills. They are sins that crucify Christ anew in His people. We must tear down these walls, not with violence, but with relentless love. If we do not, the foundations of society will crumble under the weight of our hypocrisy.
The Church’s Trial and the Call to Action
Yet, even as we look outward, we must also look inward. The Church herself is wounded—by scandal, by division, by those who use faith as a shield for corruption. We cannot heal the world if we do not first purify our own house. Let us hold our shepherds accountable. Let us demand transparency, humility, and above all, holiness.
The hour is late, my brothers and sisters. The demons of war, greed, and indifference stalk the earth. But we are not without hope! For Christ has conquered the world, and He works now through us—through our hands, our voices, our sacrifices.
Imagine a world where peace reigns, where the poor are lifted up, where justice flows like a river. This is not fantasy—it is the Kingdom of God, and it begins today, with you.
But if we refuse—if we turn away—then know this: the storms will come. The wars will spread. The earth will grow barren. And we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, with nothing to offer but our excuses.
Do not let that day come. Rise up, Church! Rise up, children of God! The time for action is now.
Amen.
What can we do?
Peace and Conflict Resolution
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