By + José Luís Gerardo Ponce de León, IMC
Bishop of Manzini
“If you too had only recognised on this day the way to peace!
But in fact it is hidden from your eyes!”
(Lk 19:42)
The evening of Monday 4 April, St Elizabeth Primary School’s library (Majembeni) was petrol bombed. This morning I visited the place and prayed with the school’s staff.
We do not know who is responsible for this. We do not know the reason why it was done. It is difficult to know who benefits from this. We do know who pays the consequences: the children. It is always the poor and the most vulnerable who suffer most the consequences of violence.
Violence can only generate more violence. It does not matter where it comes from nor who inflicts it. Jesus chose to break the cycle of violence on the cross. Those who follow him, do the same.
Jesus’ tears over Jerusalem naturally come back to our hearts and minds. Jesus continues to cry over these “new Jerusalems” unable to find the way to peace.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be recognised as children of God‘”(M t 5:9). Peacemakers – not just peaceful – are desperately needed.
We pray for all those who have been traumatized by this experience and live in fear.
