Homily of Msgr. Juan García at the Mass for Peace

Peace, a gift so desired by individuals, families, churches and peoples comes from love.

God thought of us with love and created us in the womb for the love of our parents. What a spectacular peace!

And at birth, being burdened, breastfed, fed, clothed, cared for, and protected by family love, we slept, played, and lived in increasing peace.

How many blessings of peace!

Growing up they taught us, kept words, with life, family harmony, friendship, fulfilling the given word, honesty, and when we were wrong they spoke to us, taught us, corrected us, scolded us, and in the end all in peace.

When young people, full of illusions and projects, the elderly, teachers, priests, nuns, led us to peace and learned that when peace was lost for our own sins and evils or when some obstructed our peaceful path, we would have to stand up and continue after peace, embrace it and never lose it again.

When husbands love each other more and more the house becomes a place of peace like the cave of Bethlehem to which poor shepherds and rich wizard kings ran. To the house where there is peace, the children want to return early.

God has chosen politicians to be craftsmen of peace. Good politics is done through dialogue that says and listens with attention and reflection and never ends with insult. Pope Francis, in his message of Peace 2019 and which Mr. Nuncio will deliver to everyone at the end of Mass, invites those who dialogue to say to each other: “I trust you and I believe that we can work together”. In this same document, the Pope has pointed out political gaps: corruption, denial of law, non-compliance with Community rules, illegal enrichment, the justification of power by force, the tendency to become perpetuated in power, xenophobia, racism, rejection of land care, unlimited exploitation of natural resources, contempt for those who have been forced into exile.

The Pope in his message quoted the beatitudes of the politician proposed by the Vietnamese Cardinal Francisco Javier Van Tuan, faithful witness of the Gospel, who died in 2002.

Blessed is the politician who has a high regard and a deep awareness of his role.

Blessed is the politician whose person reflects credibility.

Blessed is the politician who works for the common good and not for his own interest.

Blessed is the politician who remains faithfully coherent.

Blessed is the politician who performs unity.

Blessed is the politician who is committed to radical change.

Blessed is the politician who can listen.

Blessed is the politician who is not afraid. (End of appointment).

Every politician, at the end of his service and his life, should exclaim:

“Now, my God, you can let your son go in peace, for my eyes have seen that

-all families are closer together.

-the family, school and church form an educational community.

-young people carry out their valid hopes with their own efforts and helped.

-prisons are becoming more empty.

-the sick feel loved and helped by all.

-everyone says those who think and are respected.

-no one leaves their land because for everyone it is the most beautiful they have ever seen.

What peace this politician has sown!

Many think peace is impossible.

We have a Mother in heaven.

Our mother in this life did not close our dreams, but encouraged, provided and stood by us.

To Our Lady, queen of peace, the main interested in her children living, working and having fun in peace, we pray to God the Father for the peace for which we were created and which we desire and for which we fought; and as for God there is nothing impossible, we hope to enjoy it before going to eternal peace, where we will sing with the angels: “Glory to God in heaven and on earth peace”.