Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters, on this sacred Sunday, the 20th in Ordinary Time.
Today, as we gather in the light of Christ, we must confront the great trials of our age—war, suffering, and injustice—with the unwavering faith that through God’s grace and the labor of good men and women, these evils can be overcome. The world groans under the weight of violence, hunger, and hatred, yet we must never forget that we are called to be instruments of the Lord’s mercy, builders of His peace, and defenders of His justice.
The Scourge of War and the Call to Peace
In Ukraine, in Gaza, in so many corners of the earth, the thunder of war drowns out the cries of the innocent. Leaders meet in summits, yet the bloodshed continues. But let us remember the words of our Lord: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). True peace is not merely the absence of war—it is the presence of justice, the triumph of love over vengeance.
Imagine, dear brothers and sisters, a world where nations lay down their arms, where diplomacy is not a tool of power but a path to reconciliation. This is not a dream beyond our reach—it is the kingdom Christ calls us to build. But if we remain silent, if we allow pride and hatred to dictate the fate of nations, then war will consume us all. The choice is ours: to be architects of peace or witnesses to endless destruction.
The Cry of the Suffering
In Gaza, a malnourished woman dies far from home, one of countless victims of a humanitarian crisis that shames humanity. The Lord’s command is clear: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” (Matthew 25:35). How many more must perish before we act? How many more children must starve before we see Christ in their faces?
Yet I tell you, a brighter future is possible. Imagine hospitals overflowing not with the wounded but with the healed, refugee camps transformed into thriving communities, borders opened not for war but for compassion. This is the world we must labor for—but if we turn away, if we harden our hearts, then suffering will multiply until it engulfs us all.
The Sin of Injustice
In France, a tree planted in memory of a murdered Jew is cut down—an act of hatred that seeks to erase even the memory of the innocent. The Book of Proverbs cries out: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” (Proverbs 31:8). Silence in the face of injustice is complicity.
But imagine a world where no one is persecuted for their faith, their race, or their poverty—where justice flows like a river, and mercy like a never-failing stream. This is the kingdom we must strive for. Yet if we remain indifferent, if we allow bigotry and violence to fester, then the darkness will spread until no one is safe.
The Challenge Within the Church
And yet, my brothers and sisters, even as we confront the evils of the world, we must also acknowledge the failings within our own Church. Too often, scandal and division have weakened our witness. Too often, we have been slow to act, hesitant to reform, reluctant to embrace the full measure of Christ’s radical love.
I call upon every one of you—clergy and laity alike—to renew the Church through prayer, through service, through unshakable integrity. Let us be a beacon of hope in a world desperate for light. If we fail in this, if we allow complacency to paralyze us, then we betray the very Gospel we proclaim.
The Choice Before Us
The future is not written, my dear friends. It is shaped by our hands, our hearts, our faith. If we rise to this moment—if we become peacemakers, healers, defenders of the oppressed—then the kingdom of God will draw near. But if we falter, if we turn away, then war will spread, hunger will deepen, and hatred will triumph.
Let us not wait for catastrophe to awaken us. Let us act now, with courage and with love, for the sake of all God’s children.
Amen.
What can we do?
War and Peace
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