CHANGE OUR HEARTS

 

We are only a few weeks away from Advent- one asks how did the time fly? It seems our focus for the past two years has been on war and its effects on our world. People are losing hope, especially the young.  Where do we go? What is our future, they ask. Never, at least in my lifetime, has a generation faced the unknown. My answer is, we can only pray!  And no one hears our prayers more than our heavenly Mother.

Change the hearts of leaders to seek peaceful solutions. Bring harmony to our broken world. We ask all this through your help and intercession, Most Blessed Mother, as you lead and direct us each day into greater love for and obedience to your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 “Without forgiveness, without the ability to move beyond the evil committed, we will never get out of this situation. But the timing and methods are not easy to determine. We are still at a time where emotions play a very important role in interpersonal and community relationships. The question of rebuilding healthy relationships will certainly arise: Trust between Israelis and Palestinians has been wounded in a very deep way.

 As Christians, our task is to boldly affirm the duties of justice and peace but at the same time, to be close to people without judging, without condemning, but by welcoming: welcoming the differences, the struggles, the different perspectives. At a time when everyone is building barriers, we must be the ones with open doors.” 

 Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, created a cardinal by Pope Francis on Sept. 3, 2023