2018 has begun with a bang giving birth to several new plans, dreams and hopes. But is there a way to prioritise them?
In 1968, Pope Paul VI “addressed himself to the people of good will in the whole world to observe January 1 as the Day of Peace”. All the popes thereafter have delivered messages of peace for all, making January 1, 2018 the 51st World Day of Peace. One wonders as to why starting from Pope Paul VI, all the popes have insisted on peace as their first priority on the very first day of the year. Could they not, for instance, speak about financial growth as a priority which would ensure bread for every hungry stomach? Or think of “faith” since popes are leaders of faith communities? Or set that sublime virtue of love as priority, since the central Christian teaching hinges on love?
The address of Pope Paul VI answers that question: “We think that this proposal interprets the aspirations of peoples, of their governments, of international organisms, which strive to preserve peace in the world, of those religious institutions so interested in the promotion of peace, of cultural, political and social movements which make peace their ideal; of youth, whose perspicacity regarding the new paths of civilisation, dutifully oriented toward its peaceful developments is more lively… The proposal to dedicate to peace the first day of the New Year is not intended, therefore, as exclusively ours, religious, that is, Catholic…”
This year Pope Francis dedicating his message to the concerns of migrants and refugees focuses his attention on universal brotherhood. His message reminds me of our own ancient value of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the universe as one family). He says, “In a spirit of compassion, let us embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homelands.” He then adds, “all of us belong to one family, migrants and the local populations that welcome them, and all have the same right to enjoy the goods of the earth… as the social doctrine of the Church teaches.”
He bemoans the fact that currently there are 250 million migrants worldwide and 22.5 million of them are refugees, who leave their homes and lands in search of peace and better living conditions and suggests, “Offering asylum-seekers, refugees, migrants and victims of human trafficking an opportunity to find peace requires a strategy combining four actions: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating.”
How could we work towards peace in 2018? There are homeless people, those living on streets and desiring just tiny bit from us all around us. Let us then prioritise from our plans, dreams and hopes to contribute to this basic human desire for peace.
