Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Today, we gather under the gaze of the Almighty, called to reflect on the great moral challenges of our time—challenges that test our faith, our compassion, and our commitment to justice. The world groans under the weight of division, suffering, and corruption, yet we must never forget that we are instruments of God’s peace, called to transform despair into hope, hatred into love, and injustice into righteousness.
A Call for Peace Among Nations
The prophet Isaiah speaks of a time when nations will no longer raise swords against one another, when weapons of war will be reforged into tools of life (Isaiah 2:4). Today, we witness the slow, painful birth of justice as nations take steps to recognize the dignity of the Palestinian people. France’s decision to recognize the state of Palestine is a small but vital movement toward peace—a peace that must be built not on the ruins of war but on the foundation of mutual respect.
Yet, let us not deceive ourselves: recognition alone will not heal the wounds of generations. True peace requires more than political gestures; it demands that we, the faithful, become living bridges of reconciliation. If we do not act—if we remain indifferent—then the cycle of violence will only deepen, and the children of today will inherit a world more fractured than our own.
The Cry of the Suffering in Gaza
In the Gospel of Matthew, our Lord speaks with piercing clarity: "I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink" (Matthew 25:35). Today, the children of Gaza cry out in hunger, their bodies weakened by malnutrition, their futures stolen by war. The United Nations warns that one in five children in Gaza City suffers from malnourishment, while aid sits just beyond reach, blocked by the machinery of conflict.
This is not merely a political crisis—it is a moral catastrophe. If we claim to follow Christ, then we cannot turn away. The Church must raise its voice, not in empty words, but in action. We must demand that aid reach the starving, that hospitals be allowed to heal, that the innocent no longer pay the price of hatred. If we fail, history will judge us harshly—and God will ask us, "What did you do for the least of these?"
The Scourge of Corruption and the Demand for Justice
Proverbs reminds us that "when justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers" (Proverbs 21:15). In our world, too often, the powerful escape accountability while the weak suffer. The recent acquittal of athletes accused of grave crimes leaves many questioning whether justice was truly served. But let us be clear: the failure of earthly courts does not mean that divine justice sleeps.
Corruption is not only a sin of individuals—it is a sickness in our institutions, even within our own Church. Too often, scandals have shaken the faith of the people, and too often, the response has been silence or evasion. We must repent, we must reform, and we must rebuild trust through transparency and humility. The faithful must demand integrity from their shepherds, and the shepherds must lead with holiness, not self-interest.
A World Transformed by Christ’s Love
Imagine, dear brothers and sisters, a world where nations lay down their arms, where no child goes hungry, where justice flows like a mighty river. This is not a dream—it is the Kingdom of God breaking into our broken world. But it will not come without our labor. Christ does not work miracles alone; He works through us—through our hands, our voices, our sacrifices.
Yet, if we refuse this call, if we choose comfort over courage, indifference over action, then the shadows will deepen. Wars will multiply, famine will spread, and corruption will strangle the last remnants of justice. The apocalypse is not merely a prophecy—it is a warning of what happens when good men do nothing.
A Final Plea to the Faithful
Let us rise, then, as the living Body of Christ. Let us pray, yes—but let us also act. Let us give to the hungry, advocate for the oppressed, and hold our leaders—both secular and spiritual—to the highest standard. Let us cleanse our own house, the Church, so that it may shine once more as a beacon of holiness.
Through Christ, all things are possible. Through us, His will is done on earth. Let us not fail Him.
Amen.
What can we do?
The world faces complex challenges, but each of us can take small, meaningful steps to contribute to justice, peace, and human dignity. Here’s how we can act in practical ways:
1. Advocate for Peace and Justice
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