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I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice. (Is 42:6a LFM)
Sudan has been the site of major atrocities for some time. The "victory of justice" to which we are called demands that we pay attention to what is going on there. To urge all US Catholics to pray and act on behalf of people in that country and region, the US bishops (www.usccb.org) and Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org) have put together the following announcement for this Sunday:
On January 9, 2011 the people of southern Sudan begin a week-long voting process to determine whether they will remain united with Sudan or become an independent country. For the past several months Catholics around the world have joined with the people of Sudan to pray for a peaceful resolution to this vote. The risks of a violent outcome are real. But there is also hope for peace. The Church in Sudan and Catholic Relief Services have been building a foundation for peace in Sudan in preparation for this vote. To learn more about how you can prayerfully act for peace in Sudan at this time, visit www.peaceinsudan.org for prayers, resources and opportunities for action.
Copyright © 2011, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
The first reading for this first Sunday of Advent contains probably the most famous passage from the prophet Isaiah:
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again. (Is 2:4NAB)
Peace continues to be a significant matter in today's world, and it increasingly involves religion. Many commentators decry "Islamic terror," and churches, synagogues, and mosques have been targets of attacks.
In recognition of all this, Pope Benedict has set the theme for the upcoming World Day of Peace (January 1, 2011) as "Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace." Parishes and families are encouraged to see what they can do to prepare for the World Day of Peace by checking out the resources on the US bishops' web site. The link is http://bit.ly/e8VKH2.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
