Shalom is a Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility. So, peace is not only the absence of conflict. Rather, it is the commitment to attain dignity and prosperity for all human beings.
On January 1, World Day of Peace, we pray for equity, well-being, justice, and development for people and nations. This is why we start the New Year turning our gaze to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, humbly begging Him to shower upon humanity plentiful blessings of love and harmony.
The year that just ended was packed with immense challenges which certainly will linger on throughout 2023. Just to mention a few: extreme climate phenomena, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, inflation causing skyrocketing prices of essential goods, famine in Yemen and Afghanistan, and the resurgence of terrorism in Africa.
Furthermore, our world is still reeling from the dreadful coronavirus pandemic. This health crisis caused millions of deaths, the breakdown of social interactions, and the collapse of countless economic activities. The fallout will hang on for years to come.
Additionally, climate change is showing its ugly face to the world. Scientific predictions are pointing to an upsurge in the intensity and gravity of weather disasters. In the recently-held United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP27, rich nations promised to help poor countries mitigate the effects of the climate crisis. This initiative is reminiscent of another, the 100 billion US dollars a year agreed upon at the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit to help vulnerable nations to adapt to climate change. However, this pledge of financial assistance never materialized. Will governments fulfill their pledges this time?
Concerning the war in Ukraine, there have been some authoritative voices, such as Pope Francis, appealing for talks aiming at ending the conflict. However, one hears of other hardened positions warning of a prolonged war unless peace negotiations are on their own terms. The continuity of the war will inevitably upset the worldwide economy and exacerbate the arms race at the expense of the people who are suffering.
As Pope Francis says, using weapons to solve conflicts is a sign of weakness and fragility. Instead, negotiating, mediating, and building peace requires courage. This is our wish and prayer for the New Year: May men and women of goodwill have the audacity to build shalom for everyone.
