His Eminence Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, called on Catholics to reject hatred, revenge, and violence and to embrace the way of Christ through truth, forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation in his homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time on August 30, 2026.

Reflecting on the Scripture readings from Jeremiah 20:7–9, Romans 12:1–2, and Matthew 16:21–27, the Cardinal said the Word of God offers an important message not only for individual Christians and the Church but also for Myanmar, which continues to experience conflict, violence, displacement, poverty, and uncertainty.

The Fire of Faith

Reflecting on the prophet Jeremiah, Cardinal Bo noted that although Jeremiah experienced rejection, mockery, and suffering because he proclaimed God’s truth, he could not abandon his vocation. Jeremiah described God’s word as “something like a fire burning in my heart.”

The Cardinal said this reveals the mystery of faith: when the love of God touches a person’s heart, that person cannot easily abandon God even in times of suffering and difficulty.

He reminded the faithful that following God does not necessarily mean having a life without problems. Rather, Christian discipleship can involve walking the way of the Cross.

“Following God can sometimes be the way of the Cross,” he said, explaining that choosing truth may require sacrifice, forgiveness may require humility, and building peace and reconciliation may require courage and the willingness to pass through pain.

Human Thinking vs. God’s Mind

Reflecting on the Gospel account in which Peter objects to Jesus’ prediction of his suffering and death, Cardinal Bo emphasized the difference between human thinking and the mind of God. Jesus tells Peter, “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

The Cardinal invited Christians to examine whether their thoughts and attitudes are shaped by Christ or by the values of the world. While the world may promote power, revenge, competition, and victory over enemies, Christ teaches service, forgiveness, love of enemies, and respect for the dignity of every human person.

Quoting St. Paul, Cardinal Bo urged the faithful, “Do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

He said the greatest battle for Christians can take place within the human heart: the struggle between hatred and love, revenge and forgiveness, fear and faith, and despair and hope.

“Who is shaping our minds?” the Cardinal asked, pointing to influences such as media, social media, political propaganda, anger, fear, and group mentality. He urged the faithful instead to allow Jesus Christ to shape their minds and hearts.

A Message for Myanmar

Turning directly to the situation in Myanmar, Cardinal Bo acknowledged the suffering caused by prolonged conflict and violence. He said many families are grieving, young people face an uncertain future, children’s education and dreams have been affected, communities have been divided, and many people carry deep wounds in their hearts.

In this situation, he said, the Church must proclaim God’s way rather than the way of hatred and revenge.

“God’s way is the way of love together with truth,” he said, emphasizing that the pursuit of justice must never become an excuse for revenge.

He stressed that peace is not weakness, forgiveness is not defeat, and reconciliation does not mean forgetting the past. Rather, reconciliation means acknowledging wounds while choosing to build a shared future.

A Message to the Youth

Cardinal Bo also addressed Myanmar’s young people, many of whom are uncertain about their education, employment, and future. He encouraged them not to give up on their dreams.

“The future of Myanmar cannot be built through hatred,” he said. Instead, he urged young people to help build the country through education, truth, courage, love, forgiveness, and peace.

The Cardinal further emphasized that peace begins in the human heart. It begins when individuals reject hatred, forgive others, listen to those who suffer, and respect the dignity of people who are different from themselves.

“Peace is not something that someone else must begin first. It can begin with me,” he said.

The Cross and Resurrection

Reflecting on Jesus’ invitation to take up the Cross and follow him, Cardinal Bo acknowledged that Myanmar is carrying a great Cross today but reminded the faithful that the Cross is not the end. “Behind the Cross is the Resurrection,” he said, encouraging Christians to remain people of hope.

He called on the Church to keep alive the “fire” of faith, hope, love, peace, and reconciliation represented by Jeremiah’s burning heart.

“Our churches must be not only places of prayer—they must also become places of peace,” he said. He urged Christian communities to become “bridges of reconciliation” rather than places that deepen division.

A Prayer for Myanmar

Concluding his homily, Cardinal Bo called the faithful to choose Christ’s way rather than the way of the world: truth instead of hatred, forgiveness instead of revenge, faith instead of fear, hope instead of despair, unity instead of division, and peace instead of violence.

He prayed especially for Myanmar, asking God to heal the wounds of the people, console grieving families, protect displaced persons, strengthen young people, give wisdom and compassion to leaders, and transform the hearts of those involved in armed conflicts.

“Silence the guns. Silence the hatred,” he prayed, asking that the people of Myanmar might hear “the song of peace instead of the cries of suffering.”

Cardinal Bo concluded by praying that the Church would become a sign of unity and reconciliation and that Myanmar would become a nation of love rather than hatred, peace rather than violence, reconciliation rather than division, and hope rather than despair.

“Lord Jesus Christ, transform our hearts. Heal our people. Lead Myanmar into peace,” he prayed.

By RVA Sgaw Karen Service