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 torn by violence, injustice, and suffering. The echoes of war crimes, the cries of the innocent, and the groans of those denied justice resound across the earth, demanding not only our prayers but our action. The Lord has placed upon our shoulders the sacred duty to be peacemakers, defenders of the weak, and champions of righteousness.
Consider the words of our Savior: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9) Yet, in Gaza, in Syria, in countless other lands, the drums of war still beat, and the innocent perish. Governments and armies, blinded by vengeance or power, commit atrocities that stain the conscience of humanity. But we, the children of God, must not grow numb to these horrors. We must raise our voices, not in hatred, but in the name of peace—true peace, the peace that flows from justice, from mercy, from the recognition that every life is sacred.
The Lord commands us through the wisdom of Proverbs: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." (Proverbs 31:8-9) In hospitals like Suweida’s, where the sick and wounded are slaughtered in their beds, where the defenseless are crushed under the weight of tyranny, we must not remain silent. To turn away is to betray the very essence of our faith. The Church must be a refuge for the oppressed, a voice for the voiceless, a light in the darkest corners of human cruelty.
And what of justice? The prophet Micah reminds us: "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) Yet, in our own societies, we see justice delayed, justice denied—whether in the killing of Breonna Taylor, in the unchecked brutality of those sworn to protect, or in the systemic oppression of the marginalized. True justice is not vengeance; it is restoration. It is not a privilege for the powerful but a right for all.
Yet, even as we confront these great evils, we must also look inward. One of the gravest wounds in the Body of Christ today is the scandal of division—within the Church, among believers, between those who claim the name of Christ yet fail to embody His love. How can we heal the world if we are fractured ourselves? How can we preach reconciliation if we harbor resentment, if we cling to pride, if we allow politics and personal ambition to divide the flock of God? I call upon every one of you, my brothers and sisters, to be agents of unity. Let us put aside petty disputes, let us seek the common good, let us be living witnesses of the love that binds us together in Christ.
Now, imagine a world where these wounds are healed. A world where swords are beaten into plowshares, where the cries of the oppressed are answered with compassion, where justice rolls down like waters. This is not a dream—it is the Kingdom of God breaking into our midst. But it will not come without struggle, without sacrifice, without the relentless labor of good men and women who refuse to let darkness prevail.
Yet, if we fail—if we turn away, if we grow complacent, if we choose comfort over courage—then what awaits us? A world where violence begets violence, where the innocent are forgotten, where justice is a hollow word. A world where the Church, instead of being a beacon of hope, becomes a relic of irrelevance. The choice is ours.
Let us rise, then, with the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Let us be peacemakers in a world of war, defenders in a world of cruelty, and heralds of justice in a world of corruption. Let us rebuild what is broken, heal what is wounded, and restore what is lost.
And may the intercession of Saint Birgitta, who bore witness to God’s justice and mercy in turbulent times, strengthen us for the task ahead.
Amen.
What can we do?
The world is heavy with suffering—war crimes, violence against the innocent, and injustices that demand our attention. But even in the face of such darkness, we are not powerless. Here are practical ways each of us can contribute to a better world in our daily lives:
1. Stand Against War and Violence
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