Blessings of peace, grace, and the abiding love of Christ to all of you, my brothers and sisters, on this day of preparation, this Saturday, when we await the Lord’s Day with hopeful hearts.
We gather as a universal family, a communion of souls bound by a faith that calls us not to comfort, but to courage. We look out upon a world groaning under the weight of its own brokenness, a world that so desperately needs to feel the healing touch of Christ, a touch that must come through our hands, our voices, and our unwavering actions.
From the plains of Nigeria, a cry of anguish pierces the global silence. The abduction of hundreds of innocent children, pupils in a place of learning and faith, is a wound upon the soul of humanity. These young ones, created for joy and discovery, are taken into shadows, their futures held hostage by fear. Let us remember the promise whispered to each of them, and to us, in our own moments of terror: "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." This is not a passive promise. The angels of the Lord are often you and I—parents, leaders, global citizens of conscience—commanded by God to be guardians of the vulnerable, to be the answer to that sacred prayer for safety. We cannot stand by while the defenseless are stolen from their classrooms. We must be their advocates, their defenders, their relentless hope.
Simultaneously, a different, more intimate war rages within our homes and streets—a war against women. In South Africa and in countless nations veiled in silence, gender-based violence has reached a pitch of such horror that it can only be described as a demonic plague. This violence is a profound desecration, a direct assault on the divine image. For Scripture reminds us, "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." To raise a hand in violence against a woman is to strike at the very likeness of God. It is to tell a lie about creation, a lie that says one bearer of God’s image has dominion over another. This sin corrupts the foundation of society, turning homes into battlegrounds and love into terror. We, the Church, must be the first to proclaim the truth: the dignity of every woman is inviolable, sacred, and non-negotiable.
And on the vast, frozen fields of Ukraine, we witness the ancient sin of Cain played out with modern instruments of devastation. The pursuit of peace is fraught and complex, yet our calling is simple and clear: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." To be a child of God in this moment is to hunger for peace, to pray for it without ceasing, and to work for it with every fiber of our being. It is to reject the facile language of enemies and to see in every face, on every side of a conflict, a brother or sister for whom Christ died. It is to support every dialogue, to champion every humanitarian corridor, and to never grow weary in demanding that the roar of guns be silenced by the chorus of reasoned, just, and lasting peace.
My dear brothers and sisters, envision with me, through the eyes of faith, a world transformed. See a world where Nigerian children study under the secure gaze of their communities, where women walk without fear, honored and cherished, and where the maps of Europe are redrawn not by trenches but by treaties of mutual respect. This is not a naive dream. This is the Kingdom of God, and it is within our grasp if we, the faithful, choose to build it with Jesus as our cornerstone.
Yet, we cannot effectively heal the world if we ignore the sickness within our own walls. One of the great trials for the Church in our time is the scandal of a faith that grows lukewarm, of Christians who profess Christ with their lips on Sunday but live as practical atheists the rest of the week. We face a crisis of credibility when our actions do not match our professed beliefs. I call upon every one of you, the faithful—clergy, religious, and laity alike—to aid in solving this. Be the living Gospel. Let your charity be active, your justice be relentless, and your love be so tangible that no one can doubt the reality of the Christ you serve. Re-evangelize your own hearts daily, so that our Church may shine with the authentic light of Christ, a beacon of hope in a world too accustomed to shadows.
For if we do not contribute to this better world, if we choose apathy over action and silence over prophecy, then we choose a path that leads to a man-made apocalypse. A world where children are not safe in their schools is a world without a future. A world where women are not safe in their homes is a world without love. A world where nations cannot lay down their arms is a world destined for ash. This is the stark warning: without our active, faith-filled contribution, the darkness will not simply remain; it will grow. The void left by our inaction will be filled by despair, and the harvest of our indifference will be a whirlwind of suffering for generations to come.
But this is not our destiny. We are people of the Resurrection. We are Easter people. Let us go forth from this place not as passive observers of a fractured world, but as its healers. Let us be the angels who guard the children, the defenders who uphold the dignity of every person, the peacemakers who bridge divides, and the faithful whose lives are a radiant testament to the Lord we serve. Let us build that better world, not with fear, but with the fierce and joyful certainty that with Jesus’s help, and through the workings of good men and women, it is not only possible—it is our sacred duty.
Amen.
What can we do?
In our troubled world where headlines speak of children taken from schools, women facing violence in their communities, and nations locked in conflict, we might feel powerless. Yet each of us holds practical capacity to create ripples of change through our daily choices and actions.
For the protection of vulnerable children everywhere, become an advocate for education safety. Support organizations that provide security infrastructure to schools in high-risk areas. Teach your own children situational awareness and safety protocols without instilling fear. Contact elected representatives to demand diplomatic pressure for the safe return of abducted students and prevention of future kidnappings. When communities prioritize children's safety as a universal right, we build foundations for lasting security.
Confront gender violence through conscious daily behavior. Examine your own relationships and language—eliminate jokes, comments, or attitudes that diminish anyone's dignity. Support local women's shelters through volunteering or donations. Teach young people in your life about healthy relationships and consent. Intervene safely when witnessing harassment in public spaces. Report abusive behavior to authorities when you see evidence of it. Create environments where survivors feel believed and supported rather than shamed.
For peace in war-torn regions, become an informed citizen who sees beyond simplistic narratives. Read multiple international news sources to understand different perspectives in conflicts. Support humanitarian organizations providing aid to all affected civilians regardless of nationality. Reject xenophobic language about any culture or people in your conversations. Contact your government representatives urging diplomatic solutions over military escalation. Welcome refugees and immigrants from conflict zones into your communities with practical support.
In your professional life, apply ethical standards that respect human dignity. In your consumer choices, support companies with transparent supply chains that don't exploit vulnerable workers. In your digital interactions, spread verified information rather than inflammatory content. In your local community, build bridges across cultural and religious divides through shared projects.
These practical actions, consistently applied in ordinary life, create currents of change that can eventually shift tides of injustice. We may not solve global crises overnight, but we each contribute to making our corner of the world more just, safe, and peaceful.
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.