Blessings of peace to all of you, my brothers and sisters.
We gather today in the light of Christ, a light that seeks to penetrate every shadow of our troubled world. We look around and we see a landscape marred by profound wounds, wounds that cry out to heaven and demand from us, the faithful, a response of courageous love and unwavering action. The news of our day brings these wounds into stark relief, presenting us not with abstract concepts, but with the shattered lives of our brothers and sisters.
We hear of violence and the loss of innocent life, of young students, bearers of promise and hope, cut down in a moment of senseless fury. Their dreams, entrusted to them by God, were extinguished, leaving behind a chasm of grief for families and communities. This is not merely a crime statistic; it is a failure of our shared humanity, a rupture in the sacred bond that calls us to be keepers of one another. The Lord Jesus proclaimed, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” But peace is not a passive state; it is a relentless, active pursuit. It is the work of building communities where dignity is recognized, where despair is met with compassion before it curdles into rage, where justice is sought not for vengeance, but for healing. We are all called to be these peacemakers—in our families, our neighborhoods, and in the global village. We must be architects of reconciliation, tirelessly working to dismantle the structures of hatred and indifference that breed such terrible fruit.
Simultaneously, we confront a pervasive moral decay, a culture that often glorifies darkness and commodifies human dignity. We see scandals that lay bare a profound sickness, where the vulnerable are exploited, and the sacredness of the human person is trampled for power or pleasure. The Apostle Paul urges us, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” To expose them is not to wallow in prurient interest, but to courageously affirm the light of truth. It is to insist, in our conversations, our consumption of media, and our raising of the young, that a person is never an object. It is to build a culture that respects the profound mystery of every individual, created in the image and likeness of God. We must be a people who champion purity, integrity, and respect, not as antiquated ideals, but as the only foundation for a civilization worthy of the name.
Within the very household of faith, we are reminded of the solemn responsibility of leadership. The Church, our mother and teacher, is entrusted with the precious treasure of the Gospel, and her shepherds are called to a sublime standard. The Scripture tells us that an overseer “is to be above reproach… self-controlled, respectable, hospitable.” This is a calling to radical transparency and humility in service. It is a reminder that authority in the Church is not for dominion, but for washing feet; not for prestige, but for pouring oneself out in love for the flock. As we give thanks for the guidance of new shepherds, like your next Archbishop, we must also recognize that the health of the Church’s leadership depends on the prayers, the vigilance, and the loving support of the entire Body of Christ. One of the great challenges of our time remains the deep wound of mistrust caused by failures in this sacred duty. I call upon every one of you, the faithful, to aid in healing this wound. Aid through your fervent prayers for your priests and bishops. Aid through your respectful and honest dialogue with them. Aid by holding yourselves and your communities to the same Gospel standard of holiness, creating an environment where integrity flourishes. The Church is not a corporation of the perfect, but a hospital for sinners, yet we must all strive, clergy and laity together, to ensure it is a place where the medicine of truth is administered with clean hands and a pure heart.
My dear brothers and sisters, envision with me the world that is possible. Envision a world where the peacemakers have sown their seeds so diligently that the harvest is a global fraternity, where nations beat their swords into plowshares and no one lives in fear. Envision a culture where the light of Christ’s love has dispelled the darkness of exploitation, and every person is seen and cherished for their inherent worth. Envision a Church, radiant and humble, where leaders and people walk together in trust, a compelling sign of God’s kingdom for all humanity. This is not a naive dream. This is the promise of the Gospel, and it is achieved through the daily, determined workings of good men and women, animated by the Spirit of Jesus. He is the vine; we are the branches. Without Him, we can do nothing. But with His help, we can move mountains.
Yet, we must also speak with a prophetic urgency. If we choose complacency—if we hear the cry of the victims and turn away, if we accommodate the darkness for the sake of comfort, if we expect the Church to heal itself without our own conversion and involvement—then we choose a different path. We risk constructing a world of our own despair: a world perpetually at war with itself, where violence becomes the common language; a culture sunk in a cynical mire, having forgotten the very concept of the good; a Church that grows silent and irrelevant, its light hidden under a bushel of its own failings. This is not the wrath of a vengeful God, but the tragic, logical conclusion of a humanity that has abandoned its own vocation to love. It is an apocalypse of our own making.
But this is not our destiny! We are children of the light. On this day, as we remember so many saints who faced the darkness of their times with faith, let us resolve to be the saints of this moment. Let the tragedy of violence ignite in you a commitment to be a peacemaker. Let the spectacle of moral decay strengthen your resolve to live and champion a life of integrity. Let the call for holy leadership begin with your own prayerful support and your own faithful witness.
The world is waiting, not for mere words, but for the testimony of your lives. Go forth, then. Be not afraid. Build, console, forgive, teach, and love. With Jesus’s help, let us solve these great problems together, and become the living answer to the world’s deepest longing.
Amen.
What can we do?
In the face of violence that shatters communities and claims innocent lives, our practical response must be the active cultivation of peace. This begins in our own spheres. We can commit to being reconcilers in our families, workplaces, and social circles, de-escalating conflicts with patience and calm words. We can support and volunteer with local organizations dedicated to violence intervention, youth mentorship, or trauma counseling. Practically, this means donating time or resources to a community center, or simply choosing to listen with compassion rather than respond with anger. By building pockets of peace around us, we counter the culture of violence.
When confronted with moral decay and scandal, especially when it involves the exploitation of the vulnerable, our duty is to foster integrity and uphold human dignity. We do this first by holding ourselves to a high standard of honesty and respect in all our dealings. We can support journalism and institutions that pursue truth and transparency. In our daily consumption of media and entertainment, we can consciously reject content that degrades or objectifies human beings, choosing instead what affirms the worth of every person. We can teach the young people in our lives about healthy relationships and consent. By living and demanding integrity, we cast light into dark corners.
Regarding leadership within our Church and society, our role is one of engaged and prayerful support, coupled with responsible expectation. We can pray earnestly for our leaders, for their wisdom, courage, and fidelity. We can participate constructively in our parish communities, not as passive spectators but as active members contributing our time and talents. We should expect and encourage transparency and accountability from all in positions of trust. Practically, this means attending parish meetings, asking thoughtful questions, and offering our skills—whether in administration, finance, or pastoral care—to help build a healthier community. We support good leadership by being exemplary followers who are informed, involved, and invested in the common good.
Our faith is made real through concrete action. By building peace where we are, living and demanding integrity, and participating responsibly in our communities, we each become a practical force for healing and hope in a wounded world.
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.