Fred Reads the Homily

For the Allied High Command,

Many centuries ago, a prophet in Israel charged men with the duty of “Proclaiming liberty—every man to his neighbor.” No text can be more appropriate to this Victory in Europe Day....

In the ages that lie between the sounding of Jeremiah’s message and this day, the human family has suffered many wars and oppressions. Too frequently, the close of the wars have themselves established the oppressions. It is not difficult for us to imagine how incredibly frightful would be this day had our enemies won this war – had they established their own ‘diktat’ peace, with its consequent Dachau, Buchenwald, and Nordbausen concentration camps in Connecticut, Kentucky, and California. Thank God, the conflict ends with victory for the United Nations! What a joy we can ‘proclaim’ this Victory Day. Certainly we have every right to hope that liberties for all people will grow from the multitude of sacrifices that have been made. May this new era be a period of realization of the prophet’s dream – when every man would proclaim liberty to his neighbor. Reflective minds must watch with concern the course chosen by the delegates to the United Nations’ Conference in San Francisco. Here is the first step toward building victory into durable peace. Will we find in the world of tomorrow an international outlook with the breadth of vision and freedom that has characterized our country’s growth? If not, we may find a world bearing more resemblance to Alcatraz – the prison-rock in San Francisco harbor. Yet the thoughtful mind remembers that that is a choice with which we are always faced, if we are free to choose. Victory has brought us freedom of choice, and given the people of the earth real hope. Truly that is cause for celebration. Days of war are hard times and breed many griefs. They are, too, times of testing and development of character. The reward that remains, however, is the peace. Surely today we may exchange for the spirit of heaviness the garment of joyful praise!