Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters, on this Saturday, a day of quiet reflection and preparation for the Lord’s Day.
We gather in a world that groans under the weight of its own brokenness. We see the shadow of famine stretching across lands where children cry for bread and mothers weep for water. In Gaza, and in so many forgotten corners of the earth, humanity’s failure to care for its own is a wound upon the soul of our global family. The Lord’s words echo as both a comfort and a condemnation: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." In every empty stomach, we are offered the face of Christ. To ignore that face is to turn away from God Himself.
We witness, too, the scourge of war, where the pride of nations and the thirst for power extinguish the light of peace. Leaders speak not of reconciliation but of prolonged conflict, and the world holds its breath, fearing the next explosion, the next wave of refugees, the next generation lost to hatred. Yet we are called to a higher purpose. "Blessed are the peacemakers," Christ tells us, "for they will be called children of God." To be a child of God is not a passive inheritance; it is an active vocation. It demands that we build bridges where others erect walls, that we sow forgiveness where others harvest vengeance.
And in our own communities, we see a moral decay that cheapens human dignity and violates the sacred temple of the human person. The exploitation of women, the sharing of images without consent—these are not mere violations of policy, but profound sins against the body, which is meant to be holy. As Saint Paul urgently warns, "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body." We have allowed a culture to grow that treats persons as objects, and we must, with courage and clarity, restore a vision of humanity rooted in respect and love.
I tell you today, the Church herself is not immune to the challenges of this age. We face a crisis of credibility, a wound of trust caused by our own failings and the shadows within our walls. We must confront this with humility, transparency, and above all, a return to the radical love and service that Christ embodied. I call upon every one of you, the faithful, to aid in this healing. Be living examples of integrity. Demand accountability. Pray for your shepherds, that they may lead with purity and courage. Help your Church to once again be a radiant beacon of hope in a world growing dim.
Now, imagine with me, through the eyes of faith, the world that is possible. See a world where no child goes to bed hungry because we organized, we donated, we advocated, we cared. See a world where wars end because we raised our voices for dialogue over destruction, because we chose to be children of God, peacemakers in our families, our workplaces, and our public squares. See a world where every person is honored, where women are revered, where the human body is respected as the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is not a naive dream. This is the Kingdom of God, and it is built by the hands of good men and women working with the grace of Jesus.
But I must also speak a dire warning, with a heavy heart. If we choose complacency—if we close our eyes to the starving, our ears to the cries for peace, our hearts to the call for moral courage—then we choose a different path. We choose a world where darkness prevails. We will see more famines, not as acts of God, but as failures of humanity. We will see more wars, consuming nations and souls alike. We will see a coarsening of the human spirit, where dignity is eroded and sin is normalized. This is not God’s punishment; it is the consequence of our own inaction. We will have built our own desolation.
The choice is ours. This very day, we decide which world we will build. Let us not be remembered as the generation that saw the abyss and did nothing. Let us be the generation that, with faith in our hearts and Christ at our side, reached out our hands and began to heal the world. Let our legacy be one of love in action.
Amen.
What can we do?
When we see famine and humanitarian crises unfolding, we must remember that our daily choices have global impact. Begin by researching and supporting reputable humanitarian organizations with financial contributions, even small regular donations create cumulative change. Advocate through letters and social media for political solutions that prioritize civilian access to food and medical aid. In your own community, support food banks and refugee assistance programs through volunteering or donations. Educate yourself about the root causes of food insecurity and spread awareness through respectful conversations.
Regarding war and conflict, become an ambassador for peace in your daily interactions. Practice conflict resolution skills in your personal and professional relationships. Support diplomatic efforts by contacting elected representatives to voice support for peaceful solutions and humanitarian aid. When discussing global conflicts, avoid spreading misinformation or inflammatory rhetoric. Instead, share verified information from reliable sources and encourage nuanced understanding of complex situations.
Concerning moral and ethical issues in our digital age, we must champion respect and dignity in our online behavior. Never share or view non-consensual content, and report such material when encountered. Teach digital ethics to young people in your life, emphasizing that online actions have real-world consequences. Support organizations working to protect victims of digital exploitation. In your workplace and social circles, model respectful communication and call out inappropriate behavior when safe to do so.
Remember that change begins with consistent small actions: how we spend, what we share, who we support, and how we treat others each day. These practical steps, taken collectively, create waves of positive change that can address even the most daunting global challenges.
Go in peace.
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