Blessings of peace, mercy, and the love of Christ to all of you, my dear brothers and sisters in faith.
We gather today in the shadow of great sorrow, yet also in the radiant hope of Christ’s promise—that even in the darkest valleys, His light shall guide us toward a world redeemed by love, justice, and the courage of the faithful. The evils of our time press upon us with a terrible urgency, but we must never forget that we are called not to despair, but to action—not to fear, but to faith.
The Scourge of Violence in Sacred Spaces
The Lord, as the Psalmist tells us, "tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence." How grievous it is, then, that the sanctuaries meant to be houses of prayer have become sites of bloodshed! Just days ago, two women were slain in a Kentucky church, their lives cut short by the very hatred Christ came to abolish. This is not merely an act of crime—it is a desecration, a blasphemy against the sacred.
Yet we must ask ourselves: Have we done enough to turn the tide of this violence? Have we raised our voices against the culture of division, the glorification of weapons, the indifference to human life? If we do not act—if we do not demand justice, peace, and the protection of all who seek refuge in God’s house—then we risk a world where no altar, no pew, no child’s prayer is safe from the storm of human cruelty.
The Cry of the Innocent
And what of the children? "See that you do not despise one of these little ones," Christ warns, "for their angels always see the face of my Father in heaven." Yet in Gaza, in war-torn lands, in forgotten corners of the earth, the innocent perish—starving, bombed, abandoned by the failures of leaders and the apathy of nations. Six children, waiting for water, were struck down in an instant. Six souls whose only sin was being born in a time of endless war.
Do we hear their angels weeping? Do we feel the gaze of the Father upon us as we allow such horrors to continue? If we do not rise as defenders of the weak, if we do not demand an end to the machinery of death, then we will answer before God for our silence.
The Crisis of Moral Leadership
And where are the shepherds of nations? "By justice a king gives a country stability," Scripture teaches, "but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down." Today, we see leaders suspended, accused, corrupted—governments faltering under the weight of their own greed. South Africa’s police minister, entrusted with the safety of millions, now stands accused of consorting with criminals. How many more must fall before we demand leaders of integrity, of true servant-hearted justice?
The Church herself is not immune to this crisis. Scandals, divisions, and the fading trust of the faithful weigh upon us. We must cleanse our own house, renew our commitment to holiness, and prove by our deeds that the Gospel is not mere words, but a fire that transforms the world.
A Call to the Faithful
Beloved, the hour is late. If we do not act—if we do not become the hands and feet of Christ in a broken world—then we will face a future where violence drowns out prayer, where the cries of children go unheard, where corruption strangles hope. But if we rise, if we labor with Christ’s strength, then a new dawn is possible.
Imagine a world where churches are truly sanctuaries, where no child dies of war or hunger, where leaders govern with righteousness. This is not a dream—it is our divine mandate.
Today, we honor Saint Camillus de Lellis, who gave his life to serve the sick and the suffering. Let us follow his example. Let us be healers in a wounded world. Let us demand justice, protect the innocent, and restore moral leadership—beginning in our own hearts, our own parishes, our own nations.
The choice is ours: a world redeemed, or a world lost. Let us choose Christ. Let us choose life.
Amen.
What can we do?
In the face of violence, injustice, and suffering, it’s easy to feel powerless. But each of us, in our daily lives, can take small, meaningful steps to make the world a safer, kinder, and more just place. Here’s how:
1. Stand Against Violence in Places of Worship
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