Mass for Peace
Friday, January 30, 2026
St. James Cathedral

As part of our process in Partners in the Gospel, we address the question as parishioners, “Who do we want to become?” I think that is the question before us as a country right now.

What we have seen over these past weeks and months - the targeting of people because of the color of their skin or their accent; the disregard for fundamental rights and the fundamental dignity;  the violence and brutality that has become standard practice by those entrusted with upholding the law; the unjustified use of that violence that has led to the death of people in the prime of their lives; the disregard of law and order by those who are supposed to protect and defend that law and order — is this who we want to be? Is this who we are becoming as a nation?
 
We gather in prayer today to say no to that, and to say yes to the founding vision of our country, and more importantly for us as people of faith, the foundation of scriptural morality. We are called to become a people grounded in the wisdom from above as St. James describes it in our first reading. That wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle and full of mercy…”
 
In Archbishop Etienne’s Pastoral Letter, issued this past Monday, entitled, “A Well Ordered Society Rooted in Truth Justice and Peace,” the archbishop wrote, “When law becomes a tool of power rather than a guardian of justice, society begins to fracture.” My friends, we are witnessing that fracturing.
 
St. James gives us a different vision of what is possible if we are rooted in God’s wisdom, rather than the false wisdom of “might makes right.” St James tells us that “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivated peace.” We have been hearing the opposite from political leaders. So, who do we want to become? Where do we want to be grounded?
 
In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Etienne makes the point that “Harsh enforcement of laws in ruthless and intimidating fashion lacks the basic demand of human dignity, respect and compassion.” So, who do we want to become? Where do we want to be grounded?
 
In today’s Gospel, as Jesus prepares his disciples for his impending death, he says to them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”
 
Rooted in that peace, living that peace, sharing that peace is who God is calling us to be and to become. It is Jesus Christ “who remains our sure foundation.”
 
May our communion with him and with each other this day produce in us the fruit of righteousness so that we may sow and cultivate peace, in our hearts, in our families and communities, and in our country.

Father Gary F. Lazzeroni