'We are one' - that is the fundamental message of Jesus. There is one earth and one God who is present everywhere and in everyone. As we look at the violence and injustice around us, we realize how this is against everything that Jesus taught us. That is especially the case with religious hatred and violence. We only honour God through love, humility, tolerance, and mutual respect. On numerous occasions in the New Testament, Jesus crossed human barriers to show us that no one is to be excluded and that all are equal in God's sight. Division and strife do not come from God. Humans create them; humans can abolish them. God challenges us to have an open heart and mind to others, even those with whom we do not agree. We all come from the same God and return to Him.

It does not appear that modern people are any better at reading the signs of the times. If we want to know God's will and what God is trying to teach us, we need only look at the newspapers or the world around us. We live in a world of violence - become a peacemaker. We live in a world of injustice - fight for justice. We live in a world whose environment is in danger - protect the earth. We live in a world of inequality - share what we have with others. We have a sacred mission on earth and we are not just here to 'get saved'. Jesus challenges His listeners to look around and decide what is right and then do it. Each day is an open book - God's book - let us learn to read it.