In the fourth century, during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, the First Ecumenical Council was convened to address divisions of faith within the Church. This event marked the beginning of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, where the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, defended the truth of the Gospel against heresy. When the Fathers gathered, they did so prayerfully, seeking Christ’s blessing on their deliberations. Their discussions were straightforward and often challenging, as they confronted the lies of the evil one and those misled by him. Despite this, they persisted with steadfast faith, exemplifying mercy, love, and truth in their witness to the preservation of the Church and the salvation of all the faithful, even those who had strayed into heresy.
The reason we engage in dialogue is because we love. True dialogue is never about argument or winning. It is undertaken for the salvation of our own souls and the souls of others. In dialogue, we seek to grow closer to one another and, most importantly, to Christ Himself. When grounded in prayer and humility, dialogue can even create opportunities for repentance—both ours and others'. Through honest conversation, the heart can be softened, the mind enlightened, and the soul directed toward Christ. In this way, dialogue becomes not a contest, but a path to healing and communion. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: “We must not oppose error with violence, but with persuasion. For this is the way of the Church: not to compel, but to persuade.”
This same spirit of dialogue, rooted in prayer and love, must guide us as we confront the painful realities of our own time. Today, we mourn the tragic assassination of a young father, husband, and fellow Christian. In such moments, the words of the Apostle Paul come alive: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Just as the Holy Fathers never wavered in defending the truth without hatred, so too are we called to engage one another with respect and clarity, never with violence. Others may choose violence against us, as the holy martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora bore witness in their suffering, but we ourselves are never permitted violence. Our calling is to engage in genuine dialogue that seeks to challenge and to save, never to destroy. Even when Truth itself is assailed, we do not silence others by force—for the Church persuades, she does not compel. Rather, through prayerful dialogue, the door is opened to repentance, reconciliation, and the peace that only Christ can give.
What lessons can we learn today? First, violence—whether in our homes, communities, or among nations—can never be a solution. Second, the freedom to speak truthfully is a gift that we must honor—not only with those we agree with, but also with those with whom we profoundly disagree. Third, all our words and actions must begin and end in prayer, for life itself is a gift from God, given for salvation and service to others. Yet it also vanishes like a flower of the field, as we chant in the Funeral Hymns of St. John of Damascus.
For those of us on social media, we've already seen images of this tragedy. Such things are not healthy for our souls. Do not seek them out. Instead, turn to prayer. Pray for the family that has been so deeply wounded. Pray also for the one who carried out this act; what they did was unnatural and grievous, but we still ask God to grant them repentance and return. This is the way of Christ: to pray even for our enemies, as He Himself prayed from the Cross.
Our Lord Himself reminds us: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). Truth is not just an idea to debate but a Person — Christ Himself to be encountered. In Him, even our divisions and tragedies can be healed. For in the Cross of Christ, hatred is overcome; in His Resurrection, death itself is defeated. Therefore, we turn to Him in prayer, unite ourselves with Him in the Holy Eucharist, and seek the intercession of His Most Holy Mother, whose Nativity we continue to celebrate, and with all the saints, so that His peace may reign in our hearts, our homes, our parish, our nation, and indeed the entire world.