The first reading reveals the disciples appointing men ‘full of the Spirit and with wisdom’ to care for the vulnerable – the widows of the early community. Today the Church is no different – we too have the vulnerable among us and we are called to care. May is Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. This is a significant issue in Australia. In the first three months of this year, 14 women and 5 children lost their lives to this violence. In 2025 there were over 22,000 Domestic Violence Orders issued, and 1 in 4 women – compared with 1 in 14 men – experience abuse by an intimate partner. Like the early Church, we must consider how to respond.

St Paul reminds us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22–23). A community full of the Spirit is a safe community – where anyone, however vulnerable, can experience love, gentleness and kindness. Are we such a community? Are we a safe haven for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence?

Peter reminds us that Jesus was rejected and gave his life as a sacrifice. He knows suffering, rejection and injustice. For those who have experienced abuse, Jesus empathises – he is with you in the darkest moments and promises never to forsake you (Heb 13:5). He calls us out of darkness and into his wonderful light. We are clear: we stand in condemnation of domestic and family violence, and Jesus does not require anyone to remain in an unsafe situation.

There is always hope. Our Lord is preparing a place of perfect love, perfect peace and perfect healing. At a practical level, we share that hope by encouraging those impacted by domestic and family violence to seek help, access support services, and find a path toward safety and healing.

Today we stand in solidarity with victim-survivors of domestic and family violence. We are called to be a community full of the Spirit – a safe place where survivors experience love, joy, peace and kindness. Our Lord knows suffering, empathises with us, and calls us from darkness into light. We share the hope we have in Christ, encouraging victim-survivors to break the cycle of abuse and look forward to healing, love and peace.