Låt oss ta del av påvens juldagstal. Han nämner de olika oroshärdarna i världen och manar till fred. Det är på intet sätt ett skrytsamt tall där han lovar att åstadkomma fred, utan han vädjar till varje människas hjärta och att fred uppstår när var och en tar sitt ansvar att upprätthålla den – så som kan ske om vi tar Jesus på allvar, omvänder oss och öppnar våra hjärtan för tron, hoppet och kärleken. Annars är vi förlorade (mina markeringar):
”…he [Jesus] showed us what we alone can do, which is to take on our own share of responsibility. Indeed, God, who created us without us, will not save us without us (cf. Saint Augustine, Sermon 169, 11, 13), that is, without our free will to love. Those who do not love are not saved; they are lost. And those who do not love their brother or sister whom they see, cannot love God whom they do not see (cf. 1 Jn 4:20).
Sisters and brothers, responsibility is the sure way to peace. If all of us, at every level, would stop accusing others and instead acknowledge our own faults, asking God for forgiveness, and if we would truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and the oppressed, then the world would change.
Jesus Christ is our peace first of all because he frees us from sin, and also because he shows us the way to overcome conflicts — all conflicts, whether interpersonal or international. Without a heart freed from sin, a heart that has been forgiven, we cannot be men and women of peace or builders of peace. This is why Jesus was born in Bethlehem and died on the cross: to free us from sin. He is the Savior. With his grace, we can and must each do our part to reject hatred, violence and opposition, and to practice dialogue, peace and reconciliation.”
Bland världens oroshärdar nämner han särskilt:
Mellanöstern
Gaza
Jemen
Libanon
Palestina
Israel
Syrien
Ukraina
Sudan
Sydsudan
Mali
Burkina Faso
Demokratiska republiken Kongo
Haiti
Latinamerika
Myanmar
Thailand-Kambodja
Naturkatastrofer i Oceanien och södra Asien
Flyktingar över Medelhavet och den Amerikanska kontinenten
För Europas solidaritet med dem i nöd:
”Let us entrust the entire European continent to the Prince of Peace, asking him to continue to inspire a spirit of community and cooperation, in fidelity to its Christian roots and history, and in solidarity with – and acceptance of – those in need. Let us pray in a particular way for the tormented people of Ukraine: may the clamor of weapons cease, and may the parties involved, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue.”
För ledarna i Latinamerika:
”May the Child Jesus inspire those in Latin America who hold political responsibilities, so that, in facing the numerous challenges, space may be given to dialogue for the common good, rather than to ideological and partisan prejudices.”
Flyktingsituationen:
”In becoming man, Jesus took upon himself our fragility, identifying with each one of us: with those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are prey to hunger and poverty, like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, like the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or traverse the American continent; with those who have lost their jobs and those who are looking for work, like so many young people who struggle to find employment; with those who are exploited, like many underpaid workers; with those in prison, who often live in inhumane conditions…”
”On this holy day, let us open our hearts to our brothers and sisters who are in need or in pain. In doing so, we open our hearts to the Child Jesus, who welcomes us with open arms and reveals his divinity to us: ‘But to all who received him… he gave power to become children of God’ (Jn 1:12).”
Bengts Blogg 