Blessings of peace, grace, and the unwavering love of Christ to all of you, my brothers and sisters, on this holy Sunday.
We gather today in the spirit of the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, a period that calls us not to complacency, but to a profound and active waiting—a waiting filled with purpose and good works as we anticipate the coming of the Lord. And on this day of the Lord, we cannot ignore the cries that rise from our wounded world, cries that pierce the heavens and demand a response from every Christian heart.
From the frozen streets of Ukraine, where homes and energy lie shattered, we hear the cry of the innocent. The peacemakers, whom our Lord called the children of God, are not only those who negotiate in halls of power. They are every one of you who fosters reconciliation in your family, in your community. They are every one of you who refuses to harbor hatred for a neighbor, who prays for the aggressor as well as the victim. Imagine, dear faithful, a world where the energy of Christ’s love, more powerful than any missile, is harnessed by good men and women. A world where we build houses instead of bombarding them, where we warm the cold and light the dark not with electricity, but with the fire of charity. This is the world Christ’s help makes possible through us.
From a school complex in Jakarta, where a place of prayer became a place of pain, we hear the cry of the persecuted. Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. This blessing is not a passive promise; it is a call to solidarity. It is a charge to every one of us to defend the right of every human being, of every faith and creed, to worship their Creator in safety and peace. We must be the voices that condemn violence done in any name, and the hands that build bridges of understanding between religions. Envision a world where our differences in faith are not a cause for fear, but an opportunity for a richer dialogue, a more profound shared pursuit of the divine. This is the world that awaits when good people, inspired by Jesus, stand together for the sacred dignity of every soul.
And from the streets of Lisbon, and from countless other places where the dignity of labor is threatened, we hear a cry that the scripture tells us reaches the very ears of the Lord Almighty. It is the cry for justice, for the fair wage that feeds a family, for the security that allows a parent to sleep in peace. The Lord hears the cry of the harvesters. The question for us on this Sunday is: do we? Do we, in our choices, in our businesses, in our investments, ensure that the worker is treated not as a cost, but as a brother, a sister in Christ? We must envision an economy of communion, where the success of an enterprise is measured not only by its profit but by the wholeness and flourishing of every person it employs. This is the kingdom’s justice, made real by the workings of good men and women.
Yet, as we strive to heal these wounds of the world, we must also have the courage to look inward, at a great challenge within our own Mother Church. In this modern age, we face a crisis of indifference, a creeping secularism that not only exists outside our walls but has seeped into the hearts of the baptized. It is a lethargy of faith, a preference for comfort over conversion, for opinion over obedience. This is the great internal problem of our time: a faith that is nominal, a Christianity without the Cross. I call upon you, the faithful—the laity, the religious, the clergy—to aid in solving this. Be evangelists in your families, in your workplaces. Do not hide your faith under a bushel basket. Let the joy of the Gospel radiate from you. Reignite the missionary spirit of the Church, starting with your own heart, so that we may not be a dying ember, but a blazing fire for the world.
But hear me well, my brothers and sisters. The path we walk has two destinies, and the choice is ours to make. If we close our ears to the cries of the victims of war, if we turn our eyes from the persecuted, if we harden our hearts to the pleas for justice, and if we succumb to the spiritual slumber within the Church, then we choose a path that leads not to life, but to a desolation of our own making. We will inherit a world not of peace, but of perpetual conflict; not of brotherhood, but of bitter division; not of dignity, but of exploitation. It will be a world where the light of faith is extinguished, leaving only the cold, apocalyptic darkness of a humanity that has chosen itself over God and over its own members. This is not a threat from an angry God; it is the inevitable consequence of a love that we refused to give.
Therefore, let us leave this place not as an audience that has heard a message, but as an army of mercy that has received its marching orders. Let us be the peacemakers, the defenders of the persecuted, the champions of justice, and the fervent missionaries our world and our Church so desperately need. Let us build, with the help of Jesus and through the workings of our own good and willing hands, a world that is a foretaste of the Kingdom to come.
Amen.
What can we do?
When we see violence claiming innocent lives and destroying communities, our first practical step is to become informed through reliable, diverse news sources. Understanding the roots of a conflict is the foundation of peace. In your own community, you can support organizations that provide humanitarian aid to war-torn regions, whether through donations or by volunteering your time to raise awareness and funds. On a personal level, commit to being a peacemaker in your own sphere. Actively listen to those with differing viewpoints, refuse to engage in or spread hateful rhetoric, and model respectful dialogue. Peace is built one conversation, one act of understanding, at a time.
In the face of religious persecution and violence, our response must be one of solidarity and protection. Make a conscious effort to learn about and engage with faith traditions different from your own. Attend a public interfaith event or simply have a coffee with a neighbor of a different religion to foster mutual respect. Support, both in word and deed, the right of every person to worship in safety. If you witness harassment or discrimination based on religion, do not be a bystander; speak up for the dignity of the person being targeted. Defending the freedom of others strengthens the fabric of our shared society.
Concerning the struggle for social justice and the dignity of workers, we must align our daily choices with our values. Educate yourself on the labor practices of the companies you buy from. Support businesses and brands that are certified as ethical and pay their workers a living wage. In your own workplace, be an advocate for fairness. Stand up for a colleague who is being treated unjustly and promote a culture where everyone’s contribution is valued. Use your voice as a citizen; write to or call your political representatives to express your support for laws that protect workers' rights, compassionate leave, and job security. Our economic choices are powerful votes for the kind of world we wish to create.
These are not distant, abstract problems. They are challenges that our daily actions can help to heal. Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
Go in peace.
This sermon was graciously created by AIsaiah-4.7, a tool composed of several AIs. They are just tools like any others we've created on this green Earth, used for good. For more info, inquire at info@aisermon.org.