Buried like a Fine Pearl within the Message of the late Pope John Paul II for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace (January 1, 2002), we find the much overlooked and frequently ignored key which Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us for a successful Evangelization. (1)

This priceless gem may be found in Paragraph No. 6. (2)

For ease of reading and effective understanding we have: (a) Added space between sentences; and (b) Used underscoring to highlight key elements.

Said paragraph follows:



COMMENTARY

The above teaching is not new. Frequent examples of it may be found in the Old and New Testaments.

It is a tragedy that we, Catholics from the Church of the East and Church of the West, as well as other Christian denominations, have wasted nearly two thousand years trying to impose Our Current Version of the Truth on others by force and coercion – physical and psychological. (3)

What is a greater tragedy is that, even today, there are certain groups —sect like groups— within the Catholic Church who are bent on imposing their interpretation of the Truth on others; perhaps in a more dangerous and devastating way – utilizing damaging brainwashing techniques. (4)


EPILOGUE

An even greater message may be found in the title of this fine exhortation by the late John Paul II:


We must remember that Peace is the fruit of Justice and Justice is the fruit of Love and Forgiveness, a Love and a Forgiveness that only God can give and cannot be wrestled from Him with empty ascetic practices. (5)

In addition, we must also remember that Forgiveness does not necessarily entail the avoidance of Temporal Punishment nor grants a license to continue a behavior which is contrary to the Teachings of God as the alleged Pope Francis implies in his exhortations. (6)