Pope Francis’ 2025 World Day of Peace message, “Forgive Us Our Debts: Grant Us Your Peace”, is a powerful invitation to everyone – individuals, communities, and nations – to engage in the transformative act of forgiveness. It is a call to embrace the principles of justice, reconciliation, and peace, not as lofty ideals, but as concrete actions that can heal wounds, right wrongs, and restore broken relationships.

The overwhelming weight of debt, however, can sometimes stand in the way of mortgaging a future of hope. But with the spiritual Bank of God – a place of limitless resources and mercy – we can apply for a new loan on life. God’s love offers a second chance – a loan that enables us to live with greater purpose, humility, and gratitude.

Here, hope itself acts as collateral, the foundation upon which we build our future. A hope tied to peace becomes the thing we pledge to work for, protect, and share, knowing that its value will ultimately help to sustain the world. This belief in hope may not always be visible in the present, but it serves as the driving force behind our efforts, showing faith in what is unseen.

Mary’s MacKillop’s own ability to take a new loan of life meant she could begin again, stronger each time, with renewed purpose and faith. She embraced the terms of the loan and understood that the quest for peace could not be realised without addressing the deep needs of the suffering. It is this Josephite ability to listen and respond to God’s call, despite the burden of debt, which remains a powerful example of spiritual stewardship.

But the terms of condition are clear, we must pay both interest and attention to our spiritual stewardship and greater call to service. Jesus makes this clear in his Gospel teachings, outlining to us that we are made to be caretakers of love, who must nurture, grow, and invest in God’s gift of peace.

By saying “Peace be with you,” Jesus invites us to experience a peace that is both divine and relational, one that connects us to God and to one another. This message, embedded in the Order of Mass, calls us to reflect on the importance of peace in our daily lives and interactions. It challenges us to be agents of this spiritual gift, especially for those who are made forgotten or oppressed.

We are reminded of the dove, a biblical peace agent often depicted carrying the olive branch – a universal symbol of amity.

The need for justice in the pursuit of peace is not just a moral imperative, but a practical one. Without justice, peace will always remain fragile and incomplete, and the cycle of conflict will continue. True peace is built on the foundation of a loving justice, and that is a vision worth striving for all around the world.

Joelle Sassine
Josephite Action Group