When saintly Pope John XXIII wrote his encyclical “Peace on Earth” he addressed it not only to Catholic Christians throughout the world, but also to “all people of good will”. I like this term because it speaks of people who are sincere, thoughtful, and are not beholden to a particular religious ideology or political platform. These are people who discern what is good using their own common sense and the inherent goodness in their hearts. Thus, it seems to me, People of Good Will believe that work is a part of our human dignity, and everyone should be encouraged to work for a living instead of just receiving handouts. People of Good Will would say that gender identity at birth is most appropriate. But boys with some feminine traits and girls with some masculine traits should be loved and respected for exactly who they are. People of Good Will believe that individual initiative and enterprise (a free market) should be encouraged, but that it must not damage the common pool of resources that we all share – clean water, air, and earth.  People of Good Will recognize a qualitative difference between an unborn fetus and a newborn baby. We do not reflect the image of God in our feet and fingers but in our awareness and our capacity to love in relationship with others. People of Good Will realize that a democracy can only function if election results are accepted by everyone, even those whose preferred candidate did not win.  People of Good Will recognize that ignorance leads to fearmongering, which leads to suspicion, and suspicion leads to hatred. And God is never found in hatred. Finally, People of Good Will know how to turn off all the noise around them and are in touch with the truth that is deep within their hearts. Besides, they are too busy caring for their children and working for a living. On the night of the Savior’s birth, the angels sang “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.” The People of Good Will are the first to hear the Good News because they are not part of a tribe. These are the ones who seek and love the Truth, the only place where God is found. – – – – Fr. Jim