Humanity is beaten almost to its knees, bewildered and
shepherdless, hungry for the bread of life. This is our day of service; we have
that heavenly food to offer. The peoples are disillusioned with deficient
political theories, social systems and orders; they crave, knowingly or
unknowingly, the love of God and reunion with Him. Our response to this growing
challenge must be a mighty upsurge of effective teaching, imparting the divine
fire which Baha'u'llah has kindled in our hearts until a conflagration arising
from millions of souls on fire with His love shall at last testify that the Day
for which the Chief Luminaries of our Faith so ardently prayed has at last
dawned.
- The Universal House of Justice (Ridvan 1982)