Reconciliation is the sign of hope [Corithians 5:20]
The Catholic Church is celebrating a jubilee year in 2025. In his Bull of Indiction for the year, Hope Does Not Disappoint, Pope Francis calls on everyone to rekindle hope: “May the Jubilee be an opportunity for all of us to rekindle hope and may the word of God help us find the reasons for our hope.”
In today’s tumultuous world, we face numerous challenges such as power struggles between major nations, geopolitical tensions, ethnic conflicts, and religious disputes. The pope wrote, “Humanity, ignoring the horrors of the past, is now facing another ordeal, with many nations becoming victims of cruelty and violence.”
According to the UNHCR, as of 30 September 2024, the number of people displaced by war, persecution, and violence has exceeded 114 million. This makes us think of the Beatitude, “Blessed are the peacemakers” [Matthew 5:9], which is being tested during conflict.
Despite the challenges to our desire for peace, Pope Francis continuously calls on world leaders to courageously and creatively engage in negotiations that can achieve lasting peace.
Moving from conflict to peace and reconciliation is the dawn of hope. In our daily lives, we face various pains, but physical pain can be healed through rest and treatment. However, the pain of broken relationships is the hardest to deal with.
Extending an olive branch to others is not easy, especially when it requires us to set aside our subjective views and interests and to see things from others’ perspectives. This demands greater tolerance, forgiveness, and understanding from us.
Active reconciliation is not an unprincipled compromise. It requires more strength and courage to reconcile with others, and we must first reconcile with God.
It says in the Book of Proverbs: “When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them” [Proverbs 16:7], and the prophet, Micah, emphasizes: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” [Micah 6:8]. Pleasing God means learning to be “merciful, just as your Father is merciful” [Luke 6:36], acting justly, and reconciling with those we conflict with, with a heart full of mercy and love.
Reconciliation is the dawn of hope. May the leaders around the world, during the Jubilee Year of 2025, reconcile with others with hearts full of mercy, ending conflicts and wars.
Patience is the firm foundation of hope!
Lenten Campaign Organising Committee, 2025
