Forgive and Be Filled with Peace

Continuing last week’s theme of the “Mission of Forgiveness,” today I want to share the final part of John Paul II’s message “Offer Forgiveness and Receive Peace,” written for the 30th World Day of Peace on January 1, 1997. I think it will be of great practical help to every citizen of this country, in whatever role each of us plays. If everyone contributes their grain of sand, great changes can be achieved very quickly in this difficult matter of reconciliation among all our dear Venezuelan brothers and sisters.

Here is the substance of that part of the message, in my own words. If you would like to read it in full, here is the link: http://www.vatican.va/holy\_father/john\_paul\_ii/messages/peace/documents/hf\_jp-ii\_mes\_08121996\_xxx-world-day-for-peace\_sp.html

In “An appeal to every person of good will,” the Pope closes his message by asking each person to become an instrument of peace and reconciliation.

To his brother bishops and priests he says: be mirrors of God’s merciful love, not only in the Church community but also in civil society, especially where nationalist or ethnic struggles rage; whatever sufferings you must bear, do not let hatred into your hearts, but proclaim the Gospel of Christ with joy and dispense God’s forgiveness through the sacrament of Reconciliation.

He asks fathers and mothers, the first educators of their children in the faith, to help them see everyone as brothers and sisters, going out to meet others without prejudice, with trust and welcome; to be for their children a reflection of God’s love and forgiveness; and to make every effort to build a united family that stands together. He asks teachers, who are called to teach young people the true values of life, to help them practice tolerance, understanding and respect at every level, holding up as models those who have been builders of peace and reconciliation.

To young people, who carry great aspirations in their hearts, he says: learn to live together in peace, without putting up barriers that keep you from sharing the riches of other cultures and traditions, and answer violence with acts of peace, to build a reconciled world rich in humanity.

He asks politicians, called to serve the common good, to exclude no one from their concern, to take particular care of the weakest sectors of society, not to put their personal interest first by giving in to the lure of corruption, and above all to face even the most difficult situations with the weapons of peace and reconciliation.

To those who work in the media, he asks that they consider the great responsibility of their profession and never offer messages inspired by hatred, violence or lies, always keeping as their goal the truth and the good of the person, whom these powerful means of communication must serve.

Finally, he invites all believers in Christ to walk faithfully along the path of forgiveness and reconciliation, joining Christ in his prayer to the Father that all may be one (cf. Jn 17:21), and to accompany this ceaseless prayer for peace with gestures of fraternity and mutual welcome. And to every person of good will who longs to work tirelessly to build the new civilization of love, he repeats: offer forgiveness, receive peace!