Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, on this holy Saturday.
We gather today in a world torn by violence, injustice, and fear. Yet we do not gather in despair, for we are people of hope—hope founded in the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ, who calls us to be His hands and feet in this wounded world. Today, as we reflect on the sanctity of life, the pursuit of justice and peace, and our sacred duty to care for the vulnerable, let us remember that the Kingdom of God is not a distant dream, but a reality we must build here and now, through faith, love, and courageous action.
The Sanctity of Life: A Divine Mandate
The Lord commands us: "You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13). These words are not mere law; they are the foundation of a civilization built on love. Yet today, we see this commandment trampled upon—in the bloodshed of Gaza, where hundreds of innocents perish in conflict; in the silent cries of the unborn; in the forgotten elderly left to wither in neglect. Life is sacred, from conception to natural death, and every soul bears the imprint of the Creator.
If we do not defend life—if we allow hatred and indifference to prevail—then we risk a world where violence becomes the norm, where mercy is forgotten, and where the image of God in every person is no longer recognized. But imagine, my brothers and sisters, a world where every life is cherished, where war gives way to reconciliation, where the strong protect the weak rather than exploit them. This is the world Christ calls us to build.
Justice and Peace: The Path of the Peacemakers
Our Lord tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9). Today, we see glimmers of hope—like the peace deal between the DR Congo and Rwanda, a fragile but necessary step toward healing. Yet peace is not merely the absence of war; it is the presence of justice, of right relationships between peoples and nations.
If we remain passive, if we allow greed and vengeance to dictate the fate of nations, then we will see only more suffering, more broken families, more generations raised in fear. But if we, the children of God, rise as true peacemakers—demanding justice, forgiving enemies, and laboring for reconciliation—then the Kingdom of Heaven will draw near.
Care for the Vulnerable: The Measure of Our Love
God commands us: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." (Leviticus 19:34). Yet today, fear drives us to reject the stranger, to close our doors to those fleeing violence and poverty. We hear the cries of businesses and families torn apart by harsh policies, and we must ask: Is this the way of Christ?
If we harden our hearts, if we turn away the refugee, the migrant, the outcast, then we betray the very Gospel we proclaim. But if we open our arms—if we see in every displaced person the face of Christ—then we will witness a world transformed by radical love.
A Call to the Church: Unity in Mission
Yet even as we labor for a better world, we must acknowledge one of the great wounds in the Church today: division. Too often, we quarrel over politics, over traditions, over petty disputes, while the world burns. We must repent. We must unite in our mission to serve the poor, to preach the Gospel, to be a light in the darkness.
If we fail—if we allow our divisions to paralyze us—then the world will continue its descent into chaos. But if we stand together, if we pour out our lives in love, then we will see miracles. We will see wars end. We will see the hungry fed, the lonely embraced, the lost brought home.
A Choice Between Two Futures
My dear brothers and sisters, the path before us is clear. One road leads to a world of darkness—where life is cheap, where war is endless, where the vulnerable are discarded. The other leads to the Kingdom of God—where love reigns, where justice flourishes, where every person is valued.
The choice is ours. Will we be idle, or will we act? Will we hide in fear, or will we step forward in faith?
Let us go forth, then, as true disciples—defending life, making peace, welcoming the stranger. Let us be the answer to the world’s suffering. And let us never forget: with Christ, all things are possible.
Amen.
What can we do?
The world often feels overwhelming, but every person has the power to make a difference through small, intentional actions. Here’s how we can contribute in practical ways to the causes of life, justice, peace, and care for the vulnerable.
Sanctity of Life
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