For many years now the Divine Word Missionaries have been commited to interfaith dialogue and interfaith living and learning, and so in the wake of the recent terrorist raids in Sydney and Brisbane, we find ourselves looking at the situation with a unique perspective.

Certainly the first thing that needs to be said is that we support the law enforcement authorities in their work of preventing crime. By all accounts, there were heinous crimes being planned in Australia by people linked to overseas terrorist groups. That the authorities were able to foil these planned crimes is to their credit.

Where problems arise is when people begin to confuse criminal activity with the presence and lawful activity of all Muslims. Some moderate Muslim communities in Australia have now reported feeling that they are under attack or at least under suspicion, despite having no links whatsoever to criminal activity.

One of the best things we can do is keep an open dialogue. But beyond that, we need to really spend time with people of other faiths, to walk in their shoes a little, to really try to be with them and understand them.

In the Gospels, Jesus regularly reaches out beyond his own Jewish religious grouping to spend time with others. And, as the parable of the Good Samaritan shows us, we are called to cross the road and give a helping hand to our fellow travellers, whether or not we are of the same faith, ethnicity or culture.

Let us pray that those terrorist criminals who subscribe to a culture of death will not prevail, either overseas or in our own community. But at that same time, let us renew our prayers for peace, and accompany those prayers with concrete action to spend time with our interfaith neighbours, thus creating small pockets of peace and harmony that might grow and prosper.