Jerusalem: Latin Patriarch's homily for 1 January

Here below is the full text of Patriarch Twal’s homily for the World Day of Peace and the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God on January 1, 2015, at the Co-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate.

Dear Brothers in the Episcopate,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Fathers and Sisters,
And all of you who make up the larger family of the Holy Land,

At the dawn of this New Year, we celebrate World Day of Peace, which has as its theme: “No longer slaves, but brothers and sisters.”

A day whose importance is all the greater at this time, when our world is subject to unspeakable violence. Today, the Church reminds us that we are all her children, children of the same Father and sons of the same Mother, whom Christ gave to us at the foot of the Cross on Mount Calvary, just a short distance from here. We are now part of one and the same family, a family nourished by the same Blood, the Blood that our Saviour shed for us and filled with the same Spirit received in the Upper Room (Cenacle).

Pope Francis today invites us to meditate upon this blood relationship which is ours, reminding us that “We are no longer slaves” but that we are “brothers.” (Philemon 1:16)

The Church, today more than ever, exhorts us to live the Message of the Gospel, the Message of Love and Brotherhood that our Lord Jesus left to us on this Land, torn apart by endless conflict. To be the sons of God is what gives all human beings equal dignity. “Slavery deals a murderous blow to this fundamental fraternity, and so to peace as well. Peace can only exist when each human being recognizes every other person as a brother or a sister with the same dignity.” (Announcement of the theme for the 48th World Day of Peace, August 21, 2014)

What does it mean to fight against slavery? Within our society, slavery appears under different guises. There is the slavery of sin, of injustice, of military or economic occupation, the bondage of hatred. The Gospel calls us to recognise the inviolable dignity of every human being. We Christians must be the living signs of fraternity, especially in this tormented and tortured Middle East. To be brothers demands of us charity without prejudice and solidarity without limits. This is how we try to live with our brothers and sisters from Syria and Iraq, who have taken refuge in Jordan.

That our region is at risk from religious extremists makes this challenge even greater. This Land of such great calling is torn apart by political problems, which are not those of the people.

Brothers and Sisters, on this World Day of Peace, we have a heavy responsibility and I would like to renew the urgent call of our Holy Father, asking us to pray, to pray with all our strength for peace. In the midst of all these events of great violence, particularly here in Jerusalem, the City three times Holy, we cannot let ourselves be discouraged, nor let the extremists have the last word. We must continue to believe in Peace in spite of injustices that have become the core of our daily suffering. “In this world, you will have to suffer, but take courage! I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33)

We know that Peace comes from On High. It is a heavenly gift, which cannot be bought, nor imported, nor imposed by force. It is a gift given to men who must deserve it, in order to carry it out.

“The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look up on you kindly and give you peace! (Numbers 6: 25-26)

Peace has a name: It is Jesus Christ. Justice also has a name: it is Jesus Christ, Our Lord, the “Prince of Peace.” He is the only Path that leads to benevolent and serene life. To doubt Peace is to doubt Him, to stand in the way of Peace is to hurt Him, for, “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
Our fraternity, in the image of the first Christian community of Jerusalem, united around the sharing of bread and the Word, must be a living testimony for our faithful, for our neighbours, Muslims and Jews, and for our pilgrims.

Nevertheless, we know that brotherhood and coexistence are not easy, even within our communities and our families. There are already thirteen churches in Jerusalem, which is why we must be reborn of the Spirit for another year full of joy and lived out in the solidarity and fidelity to the Gospel.

Today, we also celebrate Mary Mother of God, Mother of us all, Queen of Peace. The Gospel reminds us of how “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) When we find ourselves faced with situations and things we do not understand and our questions remain unanswered, then, together with Mary, let us turn towards the Infant Jesus, small, weak, vulnerable and yet the Only One, capable of responding to our expectations, of calming our raging sea and of giving us His Peace….

In this Year of the Consecrated Life, we are happy to once again express our gratitude to all our consecrated religious men and women, both active and contemplative, for their fidelity to their charism and their love for this Land. The Consecrated Life runs counter-current to the spirit of the world, which does not share the same evangelical values and no longer believes in our Beatitudes.

It is with immense joy that we announce the forthcoming canonization of our two Arab Palestinian daughters: Blessed Marie-Alphonsine, founder of the Congregation of the Rosary Sisters of Jerusalem, and Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified, founder of the Carmel of Bethlehem. They lived the Beatitudes, they experienced Calvary and death and gave their all for Christ.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, daughter of this Land, and her two saintly compatriots bring us into grace and peace throughout this new year, so that at last we may see “a new heaven and a new earth.” (Rev 21:1)
I wish you all a happy and holy new year of peace and brotherhood. Amen.

+Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch