“The angel said to the Shepherds, ‘I proclaim to you tidings of great joy to be shared with all people.’” “‘Let this be a sign to you: in a manger you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.’ Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of angels saying, ‘Glory to God and peace to all people on earth.’”
Celebrating January 1st as the annual World Day of Peace, Pope Francis, like the Gospel, also proclaims “peace to all people on earth.” With the backdrop of Covid-19 he implores our “embarking together on paths of peace.” “When tragic events seem to overwhelm our lives, and we feel plunged into a dark and difficult maelstrom of injustice and suffering, we are… called to keep our hearts open to hope.” “Covid-19… destabilized our daily lives, upset our plans and routines, and disrupted the apparent tranquility of even the most affluent societies. It generated disorientation and suffering and caused the death of great numbers of our brothers and sisters. Amid a whirlwind of unexpected challenges and facing a situation confusing even from a scientific standpoint, the world’s healthcare workers mobilized to relieve immense suffering and to seek possible remedies.” Also, “Covid-19 led to a general malaise… long periods of isolation… with significant long-term effects.” Effects include, “fractures in our social and economic order that the pandemic exposed, and the contradictions and inequalities that it brought to the fore.” “Only rarely do individuals and societies achieve progress in conditions that generate such feelings of despondency and bitterness, which weaken efforts to ensure peace while provoking social conflict, frustration and various forms of violence.” “(T)he time is right to question, learn, grow and allow ourselves to be transformed as individuals and as communities.” “What did we learn from the pandemic?” We learned that “we all need one another… our most fragile treasure is our shared humanity as brothers and sisters… Consequently, we urgently need to join together in seeking and promoting the universal values that can guide the growth of humanity.” We have “a renewed sense of solidarity that has made us more sensitive to the suffering of others and more responsive to their needs… This experience has made us all the more aware of the need for everyone… (and has) restored the word ‘together’ to a central place. For it is together… that we build peace.” Together, “let our hearts be changed by our experience of the crisis… (and to) transform our customary criteria for viewing the world around us. We can no longer think … (only of) our personal or national interests; instead, we must think in terms of the common good,… we belong to a greater community,… the time has come for all of us to endeavour to heal our society and our planet, to… (create) a peaceful world,… to pursuing a good that is truly common.”
“(W)e cannot ignore one fundamental fact, namely that the many moral, social, political and financial crises we are experiencing are all interconnected, and what we see as isolated problems are actually causes and effects of one another. Consequently, we are called to confront the challenges of our world in a spirit of responsibility and compassion. We must revisit the issue of ensuring public health for all. We must promote actions that enhance peace and put an end to the conflicts and wars that continue to spawn poverty and death. We urgently need to join in caring for our common home and in implementing clear and effective measures (related to) climate change. We need to battle the virus of inequality and to ensure food and dignified labour for all, supporting those who lack even a minimum wage and find themselves in great difficulty.’ “We also need to develop suitable policies for welcoming and integrating migrants and those whom our societies discard.”
Prayer: Beautiful Spirit, move us to bring peace to all people on earth.
Question: How can I help to restore my community?
January 01, 2023 Gospel Luke 2:16-21 Feast of Mary, Peacemaker, Mother of Jesus