“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

On Sept. 10, activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University. Just hours later, a school shooting in Denver left a young man dead and several other students injured. These heartbreaking events, alongside countless others dominating our headlines, are a stark reminder of the dangerous climate gripping our nation.

Charlie Kirk was a husband, father and voice. The students in Denver are part of a generation that deserves safety, dignity and the freedom to live/learn without fear. Every life lost to hate, violence and intolerance is a deep wound to our shared humanity and the soul of our nation. Please join me in mourning these tragic losses and holding their families in prayer, hoping that they find healing in the community.

To those feeling weary, burdened or afraid: my heart breaks with yours, and know that there is hope. Jesus offers a peace that is unlike anything the world can give. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

This peace is not passive — it is fierce, healing and deeply personal. It reaches into the darkest corners of our lives and brings light. Jesus does not lead us into hatred, division or harm. He calls us into love, mercy and compassion in every part of our lives. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

If you’ve been wounded by messages that distort Jesus’ teachings or weaponize His name, know this: that is not of Him. Jesus is the embodiment of grace and truth. He invites you (us) — not with judgment or condemnation, but with open arms — to humbly walk in His ways and discover the hope that never fades.

To my fellow Christians: This is our moment. Be peacemakers. “Blessed are the peacemakers…” (Matthew 5:9). Let the liberating and healing love of Christ shrine brightly through our words, actions and public witness.

To leaders in every sector and at every level — faith, education, business, government: in times like this your voice is not optional. Silence is not neutrality — it is complicity. You were entrusted with influence not for comfort, but for courage. Use it. Speak truth. Defend the vulnerable. Denounce evil, hate and violence. Confront systems that perpetuate harm. Seek justice. Our decisions shape the moral fabric of our communities. Silence tears it apart. Let your platforms become pulpits of justice and your decisions and policies reflect compassion.

I cannot write a pastoral letter every time hatred, violence or injustice erupts in our nation. If I did, heartbreakingly, it would become a daily ritual. But silence is not an option, and neither is despair. So instead, I invite you to join me in living hope — Christ’s hope — out loud. In our neighborhoods, our workplaces and the public square, let us embody love, courage and truth.

These are not days for the church to merely speak. These are days for the church to be seen — proclaiming the gospel with boldness, being Christ’s love in action and standing shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors in every place. That is the path I choose. That is the witness I will bear.

May peace be our resistance.

May love be our legacy,

May Christ be our hope.

Never grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9).

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Bishop Hector A. Burgos-Nunez ministers for the United Methodist Church’s Susquehanna & Upper New York Areas.