Building Peace with Justice

Building Peace with Justice is a brief, weekly bulletin reflection written by members of a Public Policy sub-committee of the Diocese of Rochester that links the Sunday readings to Catholic social teaching. Many parishes publish them as space allows. Your parish is invited to do the same.

For Sunday Bulletins on January 28, 2007

Nowhere are children more at risk than in places where violence and poverty directly and indirectly kill children. Gang violence, war, terrorism, lack of clean water, nutritious food, and healthcare violate the basic right to life of children. Pope Benedict's 2007 World Day of Peace Message puts the responsibility in our hands: "I wish to make an urgent appeal to the People of God: let every Christian be committed to tireless peace-making and strenuous defense of the dignity of the human person and his inalienable rights” Jesus has revealed to us that God is love (1 Jn 4:8) and that the highest vocation of every person is love. In Christ we can find the ultimate reason for becoming staunch champions of human dignity and courageous builders of peace.

Reflection: How can I move from the sidelines to the front line of peace building, especially for the sake of the children of our world?

For Sunday Bulletins on February 4, 2007

We can become overwhelmed by the violence, suffering, poverty, greed, and destruction evident in our world so discouraged that we haul in our nets and give up. In today's Gospel, Jesus offers us this assurance: he will get into the boat of life with us, and, he asks us not to give up living a life of love. Our U.S. Catholic Bishops remind us in their pastoral statement, Everyday Christianity, "Working for justice in everyday life is not easy. There are complex and sometimes difficult challenges encountered by women and men as they try to live their faith in the world. We applaud the efforts of all Catholics to live the Gospel by pursuing justice and peace in their everyday choices and commitments."

Reflection: How can we (personally and our parishes) be catalysts for the change the world needs?