Cardinal Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo called on the Catholic faithful to be a beacon of hope in a world where “intolerance reigns and selfishness is rampant.”
In his homily on March 2, the prelate said that in today’s society, “the Church is called to be a beacon of hope, a witness of inclusive love and an entity that thoroughly defends human dignity.”
Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, Cardinal Kikuchi, who heads Caritas Internationalis, reflected on the theme of bearing good fruit, quoting, “Each tree is known by its own fruit.”
He reminded the faithful that their words and actions should reflect the hope they bring to the world. “The fruit that we bear as good trees is a sign of hope,” he said.
Call to protect human dignity
Cardinal Kikuchi also echoed Pope Francis’ message on migration and human dignity, referencing the pontiff’s recent letter to U.S. bishops.
He highlighted the Pope’s words that “the journey of the people of Israel from slavery to freedom, recorded in the Book of Exodus, invites us to regard the reality, so clearly demonstrated in our contemporary society by the phenomenon of migration, as a decisive historical moment.”
The Pope emphasized that this moment calls on the faithful “to reaffirm not only our faith in God who is always close to us, incarnate, migrant and refugee, but also the inviolable and mysterious dignity of every human being.”
While acknowledging that states have a duty to maintain public order, the Cardinal stressed the Pope’s call for a higher moral obligation.
“The true order of love that must be promoted is found through constant meditation on the parable of the Good Samaritan, on the love that builds fraternity open to all, without exception,” he said.
Call to self-reflection
The Cardinal also urged believers to practice self-examination before passing judgment on others, quoting Jesus’ words from the Gospel: “Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?”
He emphasized that the words and actions of individuals reflect the state of their hearts, citing another passage from Luke: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
As the Catholic Church journeys through the Jubilee Year, Cardinal Kikuchi called on the faithful to embody the Pope’s message in the apostolic bull Spes Non Confundit (Hope Does Not Deceive).
“During the Jubilee Year we are called to be a sure sign of hope to so many of our brothers and sisters living in difficult circumstances,” he said.
“In today’s world, what kind of fruit are we?” the Cardinal asked. “Let us continue to walk this path as a sign of hope amid the realities of society.”
