It is fitting that our Mass today for persecuted Christians is celebrated during these days of mourning for Pope Francis.  During his papacy, Pope Francis visited 68 countries including Iraq and Myanmar where Christians are in the minority but suffering persecution.  The same can be said of the Christian population of Syria, North Korea and the many other countries where Christians are suffering because of their religion.

The first words of Jesus to the disciples when he appeared to them in the upper room as heard in today’s gospel are: ‘Peace be with you.’  The message of Jesus is a message of peace and justice not vengeance or retribution.  It is a commitment to allow love to embrace those who are marginalised.  This was very much the theme of Pope Francis’s papacy.

As we read and listen to the news today, the cruelty of people continues to astound and upset us.  How do you tell the Christian population of the Middle East or Ukraine to love those who persecute them?

I don’t have the answer, but Jesus reminds us that we are all children of God, who ‘causes the sun to rise on bad men as well as good.’  While we clearly don’t accept or excuse the horror or evil in the world, we have a right to religious freedom and cannot dehumanise those who carry out despicable actions.

Respect for the right to religious freedom is the cornerstone of a genuine pluralist and free society.  Sadly, despite the welcome progress in respect for so many other areas of human rights in the world today, research shows that respect for the right to religious freedom is under increasing threat even in countries which pride themselves as being examples of respect for tolerance and diversity. 

Here in our own country many people experience ‘so-called polite persecution’ where any public display or conversation about religious conviction is considered politically and culturally impolite.  The right to religious freedom is among the most threatened of all human rights in the world today. 

As Christians, we know that the power of the love of God enjoys no limits when we embrace it.  How often have we heard in the scriptures: “Nothing can come between us and the love of God?”  As followers of Jesus Christ, we are constantly called to reflect on what it means to feel abandoned.  We must never abandon the suffering, the poor and the persecuted. 

Pope Francis we are told, phoned Gaza every evening, he constantly prayed for the people of Ukraine and asked that the Church raise its voice in prayer for peace in the Middle East. 

When we are men and women of prayer we can only be people of peace, who wish to see all humankind live in harmony together and live in harmony with all of God’s creation.  Placing ourselves in an attitude of prayer we witness to how humans should behave towards each other and towards all of creation. 

As we pray for peace among all peoples, we pray also for generosity.  We commend to the Lord the charitable organisations who bring to these suffering people ‘the concrete expression of shared solidarity’.

May the God of love, mercy and compassion guide and enlighten the hearts of all of us.  May we continue to pray for all in our world who are persecuted and may the victims of persecution, one day enjoy the fruits of justice, peace and reconciliation.

And in the words of Jesus to the disciples in today’s gospel, ‘Peace be with you.’

Photo: Gerard Harbinson, KSG, Down & Connor // Eugene Doyle, KSG, Ferns // Rt Rev Msgr Eoin Thynne, EV, Chaplain // Peter Durnin, KC*SG, Armagh  // Prof Vincent McBrierty, KC*SG. Tuam  // Dr James Sheehan,, KCSG, Dublin  // Gerard Walsh, KSG, Ferns