Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, on this holy Sunday, the 7th Sunday of Easter.
Today, as we gather in the light of the Risen Lord, we must open our eyes not only to the glory of His resurrection but also to the suffering of our brothers and sisters across the world. The Gospel calls us to be witnesses of love, mercy, and justice—not in word alone, but in action. For faith without works is dead, and love without sacrifice is hollow.
The Cry of Gaza: A Test of Our Humanity
In Gaza, the desperate rush of hungry crowds toward aid trucks is not merely a news headline—it is a piercing cry that echoes the words of our Lord: "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 Christ if we turn away from such suffering? The world watches as children starve, as mothers weep over empty bowls, as fathers break under the weight of despair.
But imagine, dear brothers and sisters, a world where the followers of Christ rise in unity—where nations lay down their weapons and extend their hands in generosity. Imagine food not as a weapon of war but as a sacrament of peace. This is not a dream beyond our reach, for with God, all things are possible. Yet if we remain silent, if we allow indifference to harden our hearts, then we will answer not only to history but to God Himself.
The Sanctity of Life: A Divine Gift Under Siege
The Lord declares in the book of Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." (Jeremiah 1:5). Every life is sacred, every soul a masterpiece of God’s love. Yet today, the culture of death advances—masked as progress, as choice, as convenience. The passing of the scientist behind the abortion pill reminds us that even well-intentioned solutions can lead us away from the truth: that no human life is disposable.
But imagine a world where every child is welcomed, where every mother is supported, where society does not abandon the vulnerable but embraces them. This is the civilization of love that Christ calls us to build. If we do not defend life at its most fragile, then we betray the very Gospel we proclaim.
Persecution and the Courage of the Faithful
In Ukraine, under the shadow of occupation, brave souls resist tyranny in silence, in prayer, in small acts of defiance. They remind us of Christ’s words: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10). Their suffering is our suffering, for we are one Body in Christ.
But imagine a world where justice prevails, where the oppressed are lifted up, where the powerful do not crush the weak but serve them. This is the kingdom we pray for each day: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
The Church’s Challenge: A Call to Action
Yet even as we look outward, we must also look inward. One of the great wounds in the Church today is the scandal of division—between rich and poor, between tradition and progress, between those who seek comfort and those who seek Christ. We cannot heal the world if we are fractured within.
I call upon every one of you—priests, religious, lay faithful—to be instruments of unity. To feed the hungry, to defend the unborn, to stand with the persecuted. To reject apathy and embrace radical love.
A Warning and a Promise
But hear this warning, my brothers and sisters: If we do not act, the world will descend deeper into darkness. Wars will multiply, the cries of the starving will go unanswered, the unborn will continue to be discarded, and the persecuted will be forgotten. The shadows grow longer, and the time grows short.
Yet I say to you with hope unshaken: If we rise now—if we love as Christ loved, if we give as He gave—then a new dawn will break. The hungry will be fed, the unborn will be cherished, the oppressed will be freed. For the Lord does not abandon His people. He walks with us, if only we have the courage to follow.
Let us leave this place not as passive spectators of suffering but as soldiers of mercy, as builders of the Kingdom. The world is waiting for the light of Christ—and that light must shine through you.
Amen.
What can we do?
The world’s suffering 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 take practical steps in our daily lives to address these crises.
1. Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
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