Jesus Christ invites us to be instruments of peace, says Cardinal Advincula

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula on Wednesday called on the faithful to be peacemakers just like Jesus Christ and his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Advincula reminded the people in his New Year’s Eve homily delivered at the Manila Cathedral on Wedensday evening that peace, however, does not mean absence of conflict.

“For us Christians, peace does not only mean tranquility or absence of conflict. Rather, it refers to totality of wellness, the fullness of life’s blessings,” he said.

The cardinal said that Christians could look up to Jesus and Mary.

“Jesus Christ, Light for the world and Prince of peace, offers us this true peace that the world cannot give. At the same time, He also invites us to be instruments of such peace,” said Advincula.

“We can look to Mary, the mother of God, as our model peace builder. The gospel tonight indicates for us three virtues that we can learn from her: hospitality, care, and prayer.”

Hospitality, care, and prayer

Advincula said that true peace can be achieved by welcoming strangers just like how Mary and Jesus welcomed the shepherds into the manger.

“Often when we are in the presence of strangers, we may be tempted to perceive them as a threat, we are tempted to see the stranger as a danger…There will never be true peace if strangers keep on avoiding each other. True peace is born of encounter, welcoming, and dialogue,” the prelate said.

“When the infant son of God lay in that smelly manger, He was taking into his being all the odor of human kind. Para bang sinasabi Niya sa atin, kahit pa ano pang baho mo, kahit ano pang dumi mo, ay papasukin ko (It is as if He is saying to us: no matter how much you smell, no matter how dirty you are, I will let you in.),” he added.

Further, the second virtue that Christians can learn from Mary is caring for others. Advincula cited how the shepherds found Jesus wrapped in cloth, symbolizing Mary’s care as a mother.

“Peace will reign when humanity cares, when we feel with one another, reach out to one another, and serve one another especially those in need. For too long, we have tried to achieve peace through debates and discussions about concepts, structures, and projects,” he said.

“In some of our societies, we have tried to achieve peace through armies, weapons, and military technology. But as long as some of us are neglected and marginalized, there will be no true peace.”

Lastly, Advincula said that peace can be achieved through prayer.

“Ang pangalan na ibinigay nina Maria at Jose sa kanilang anak ay Hesus, at ito ay hindi lang pagsunod nila sa utos ng anghel. Ito ay panalangin din, sapagkat ang pangalang Hesus ay isang panalangin na nangangahulugan ng ‘Panginoon, saklolo po’ o ‘Diyos, tulungan niyo po kami,’” he said.

(The name that Mary and Joseph gave to [their child] was Jesus, and this was not just them following the angel’s command. It was also a prayer, because the name Jesus is a prayer that means ‘Lord, help us’ or ‘God, please help us.’)

“Prayer is the most fundamental act of  peace building [...] No matter how much effort we exert, if God is not the primary agent, our peacebuilding endeavors will end up in false comforts and injustice, a fleeting serenity that is only enjoyed by an elite few,” Advincula said.

“We need God for true peace to happen…When we bend our knees, join our hands, and close our eyes in prayer, we are building peace.” — BAP, GMA Integrated News