As I prepare for the celebration of Christmas, I have come to realise that the most important gift that I can give my neighbour is the peace of reconciliation and kindness, writes Congregational Leader Sister Catherine McCahill.

The wolf will live with the lamb,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

and a little child shall lead them …

The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,

and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.

They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain … (Isaiah 11:6, 8-9a)

What wonderful imagery – it stretches my imagination, and I hope also for most readers. I could spend much time, quiet peaceful time, pondering these improbabilities. It seems like a dream, a fantasy, a delusion. And yet, I find myself enchanted, longing for this reality. I lean forward, wanting a world where “they will not hurt or destroy.”

This dream, this prophecy, comes to us from the prophet Isaiah more than 700 years before the Common Era (before the birth of Christ). Israel is at war with Syria and threatened by Assyria. The prophet calls the people to justice and promises the intervention of God.  

I wonder, is our reality any different now?

Earlier this month, I received a letter from Sister Mary Barron OLA, the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, telling of the horror of 265 children and staff kidnapped and still missing from schools in Papiri, Nigeria. I can barely imagine the pain and suffering of the children and those who so desperately pray for their return.

On 25 November, we acknowledged the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The message for that day from Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, cites an alarming fact:

Today, we confront one of the most prevalent forms of human rights abuse around the world: violence against women and girls. The severity of this problem cannot be belittled: every ten minutes, one woman or girl is killed by their intimate partner or family member. This violence is at the same time insidious and blatant, fuelled by the sexism and misogyny that plays an intolerable role in our societies. (the highlighting is mine)

If my source was not so reliable I would wonder at the validity of this catastrophic statistic. In my own country, on average, every ten days a woman is murdered by her current or former intimate partner.

For those of us concerned about the crisis and violence in Gaza, we hoped the “ceasefire” of 10 October marked a new possibility for peace. Since then, numerous sources have reported breaches. According to Al Jazeera News, Gaza authorities report at least 360 Palestinians, including 70 children, have been killed.

I wonder, will the child ever be able to play or to sleep peacefully in her/his own home?

In Ukraine, drones and missiles continue to wreak havoc on the civil infrastructure and people continue to die, while much noise and bluster about the situation dominates the world’s political stage.

I wonder, do we remember the children, the families, the women and men who want to live quietly and peacefully in their own homes?

In El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, after 500 days of siege, the situation is similarly dire with large-scale hunger, displacement and rape. “Women bear the heaviest burden” claims Ginevra Anna Mutavati, Regional Director UN Women East and Southern Africa.

When will we reach the “holy mountain” where they will not be hurt or destroyed?

We long for signs. We prepare to celebrate Christmas. We long for peace. I wonder, can we give each other the gift of peace?

I see some signs.

We have a designated day. A simple Google search leads me to the official UN and UNESCO sites for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. I read reports and messages from Kenya, Nepal, Montevideo, Iraq and many other places, and I am heartened.

I know of Talitha Kum and its expression in Australia, ACRATH. Dedicated to standing against human trafficking and standing with the victims, these groups support countless women, men and children and advocate for policy change at the highest levels of governments.

Perhaps not in the headlines, or in the most published posts on digital media, are many stories of women and men who are working behind the scenes to heal broken bodies and spirits in Gaza, Ukraine, Darfur and so many other places of violence.

Closer to home, many individuals, groups and agencies respond daily to the victims of violence and abuse in all its forms. Many responders are volunteers, giving generously for the sake of their neighbour.

The Good Samaritan Inn is one of many agencies where women and their children can find refuge, regain some confidence and begin their journey of healing towards a fuller life. I am challenged and heartened by the contribution made by volunteers, staff and supporters to create a safe haven.

As I prepare for the end of the year and for the celebration of Christmas, I return to that message from Isaiah. Certainly, there are moments when the scale of violence, abuse and injustice seems overwhelming. However, for me, God’s promises are always kept. I see signs when I know where and how to look.

I am reminded that I, too, am invited to participate with God in bringing peace and right living to birth. Reflecting on this message and the invitation to be neighbour, challenge me. I have come to realise that the most important gift that I can give my neighbour – at home, in the workplace, in the marketplace – is the peace of reconciliation and kindness.

This article was published in the December 2025 edition of The Good Oil.