Blessings of peace, justice, and divine love to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
We gather today in a world torn by violence, injustice, and the suffering of the innocent—a world that cries out for the healing touch of Christ. Yet we must not despair, for we are called to be instruments of that healing, to bring forth the Kingdom of God in the midst of darkness.
The Scourge of Violence and War
The words of our Lord echo through the ages: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9). How desperately our world needs peacemakers today! In Gaza, in Ukraine, in countless forgotten conflicts, the machinery of war grinds on, leaving behind shattered lives and broken families. Leaders speak of strategy, of security, but who speaks for the mothers weeping over empty cradles? Who speaks for the children who will never know peace unless we act?
Imagine, brothers and sisters, a world where swords are beaten into plowshares—not by force, but by the relentless courage of those who refuse to accept hatred as inevitable. What if, instead of pouring wealth into weapons, we poured it into reconciliation? What if, instead of vengeance, we chose forgiveness? This is not a naive dream—it is the radical call of the Gospel. But if we do not answer it, the fires of war will consume us all.
The Cry of the Oppressed
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." (Proverbs 31:8). These words are not a suggestion—they are a divine command. And yet, how often do we turn away? In South Africa, a farm worker testifies to unspeakable cruelty—women fed to pigs, their dignity stripped away. How many more suffer in silence, their voices crushed beneath the weight of greed and brutality?
The Church cannot remain silent. We must be the voice of the voiceless, the defenders of the defenseless. For if we do not act, injustice will spread like a plague, until none are safe—until even the comfortable among us find themselves at the mercy of tyrants.
The Innocents Betrayed
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father." (Matthew 18:10). In Haiti, a missionary and a three-year-old child are stolen in the night. Where is our outrage? Where is our action? The innocent are not merely victims—they are a test of our humanity. If we allow the vulnerable to be trampled, we betray Christ Himself.
The Challenge Within the Church
Yet even as we confront these evils in the world, we must also look inward. One of the great failings of our time is the scandal of division—within the Church, among believers, between those who claim Christ’s name yet refuse to walk in His love. How can we preach unity to the world when we are fractured ourselves? Let us repent of our pride, our factions, and seek true communion—for only then can we be a light to the nations.
The Choice Before Us
My dear brothers and sisters, the hour is urgent. If we do not rise as peacemakers, war will drown the earth in blood. If we do not defend the oppressed, injustice will swallow all in its shadow. If we do not protect the innocent, we will answer before God for our silence.
But if we act—if we pour ourselves out in love, in courage, in relentless hope—then Christ will work miracles through us. The Kingdom is not a distant dream—it is a reality we build with every act of mercy, every stand for justice, every prayer for peace.
Let us leave this place not as passive observers, but as soldiers of love in a broken world. The time for complacency is over. The time for action is now.
Amen.
What can we do?
In a world marked by violence, injustice, and the suffering of the innocent, it’s easy to feel powerless. But each of us, in our daily lives, can take small, meaningful steps to contribute to a better world. Here’s how:
Violence and War
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