The Promise of World Peace by Universal House of Justice

The devotion to the Twin Divine Luminaries and to the well-being of humanity which inspired your noble exertions thus far must sustain you in the coming six cycles. And so all eyes turn to the months ahead. Progress depends on developing the capacity to extend the community-building process further still. The reality that there is abundant receptivity in the world at large is not in doubt. What great promise for advances at the level of culture lies in the universal celebration of such Festivals in place after place in the years to come!

Surely, this illustrates how moments sacred in human history and commemorated at Holy Days have immense power to uplift individual souls and to weld a people together through shared experience. We were much encouraged by the capacity shown to bring the broadest possible spectrum of people into the embrace of the community’s activities. And the way that each avenue of activity became a natural invitation to engage with the institute was especially noticeable.

The bicentenary elicited artistic works of beauty and feeling, creative expressions of devotion too numerous and diverse to describe. Festivities were given added depth through conversations on the needs of society, often begun by the parents of young children.

Opportunities for animated retellings of the lives of the Báb and His early disciples were eagerly seized. Celebrations within families and among families featured prominently gatherings organized by youth for their peers were likewise a strength. There are so many highlights to acknowledge. Local communities, neighbourhoods, and villages became arenas for intensified activity of all kinds, as the knowledge of what the community could accomplish-witnessed at the last bicentenary-prompted a release of tremendous energy and enterprise, supported by a sound process of preparation and reflection. We rejoiced to see the friends so assured in their response to the call to service.

Far from being merely a memorable event, the celebration of the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb was the fruit of eight cycles of devoted effort, carried out in unity and with a sense of undaunted initiative. The measure of what you have achieved-not only in the last few weeks, but during a two-year period of remarkable advance now brought to a stunning climax-compels us to address you who are the visible hosts of a movement that has proved itself irrepressible.

The Promise of World Peace by Universal House of Justice