Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
We gather today in the light of the Lord, mindful of the great suffering that afflicts our world—violence that shatters lives, the desecration of innocence, and the corruption of justice. Yet we do not gather in despair, for we are people of hope, people who believe in the transformative power of Christ’s love. We are called not only to mourn the evils of this age but to rise as instruments of God’s mercy, to be the hands that heal, the voices that speak truth, and the hearts that refuse to let darkness prevail.
The Scourge of Violence and the Call to Peace
The waters of the Red Sea, once parted by the hand of God to deliver His people, now run red with the blood of the innocent. The attack on the Eternity C, the lives lost, the families shattered—these are not mere headlines but wounds upon the Body of Christ. "Blessed are the peacemakers," our Lord declares, "for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9). But where are the peacemakers today? Where are those who will stand against the tide of hatred, who will labor not for vengeance but for reconciliation?
Imagine, dear brothers and sisters, a world where nations lay down their arms, where the strong do not prey upon the weak, where the seas are pathways of commerce and brotherhood rather than graves for the slain. This is not a dream—it is the Kingdom of God, and it begins with us. If we do not act, if we do not demand justice tempered with mercy, then the violence will spread like a wildfire, consuming nations, turning brother against brother, until the earth itself cries out for deliverance.
The Sanctity of Life: A Sacred Trust
And what of the little ones? The children, entrusted to our care, violated by those who should protect them? Our Lord’s warning is severe: "If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." (Matthew 18:6). The abuse of innocence is a sin that cries to heaven for justice.
But justice alone is not enough. We must build a world where no child fears the hands that should nurture them, where every life is cherished from conception to natural death. The Church herself must be a beacon of this truth, yet we know that even within our own ranks, scandals have shaken the faith of many. This is our cross to bear, our shame to repent of, and our mission to correct. Let us not shrink from this duty, for if we do, the world will rightly turn away in disgust, and the light of Christ will dim in the hearts of millions.
Justice and Moral Integrity: The Foundation of Society
In the halls of power, in the courts of law, in the quiet corners of our homes, justice must reign. The case of Erin Patterson, who poisoned her own family, is a chilling reminder of how far humanity can fall when morality is abandoned. "When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers." (Proverbs 21:15). Yet how often do we see the wicked prosper while the innocent suffer?
But imagine a world where leaders govern with integrity, where the powerful serve rather than exploit, where every person is held accountable—not by vengeance, but by truth. This is the world Christ calls us to build. If we do not, corruption will fester until nations crumble, until trust is extinct, until chaos becomes the law of the land.
The Church’s Challenge and Our Mission
One of the great trials facing the Church today is the crisis of credibility. Too many look upon us and see hypocrisy rather than holiness, silence rather than prophecy. We must change this. Not with empty words, but with action—by rooting out sin within our own walls, by standing unflinching for the defenseless, by living the Gospel so radiantly that none can doubt its power.
My dear brothers and sisters, the hour is urgent. The world teeters between redemption and ruin. Will we be the generation that let darkness prevail, or will we rise, as saints before us have risen, to be the light of the world? The choice is ours. The time is now.
Amen.
What can we do?
In a world where violence, injustice, and harm to the vulnerable persist, we may feel powerless—but small, deliberate actions can create ripples of change. Here’s how we can contribute in practical ways:
1. Violence and Loss of Life
This sermon was graciously created by AIsaiah-4.7, a tool composed of several AIs. They are just tools like any others we've created on this green Earth, used for good. For more info, inquire at info@aisermon.org.