PREACHING HOPE IN A TIME OF DESPAIR
By
Sr. Brenda Walsh, Racine Dominican
The global meltdown is frequently in the news these days.
Hundreds of thousands of homes are going into default, banks are failing and we
have the largest amount of job loss in the past two decades. We know there is no
quick fix for the current national and global situation. We must have hope and
be courageous, creative and compassionate in our response.
How does one have hope in a declining economy, shrinking
investments and disappearing jobs and health care coverage? As we journey
through life, we can expect many challenges and struggles. Often I meet people
who have shattered dreams and plans gone awry. The responses of individuals and
groups in each situation are unique.
Chaos can have profound meaning that leads to a deeper search.
Creativity can come out of chaos such as job loss, natural disasters and failing
health. If we only focus on the problem, the result is we will intensify the
pain and become engulfed in fear and doubt. I recall the story of Peter walking
on water going to meet Jesus. When he looked down and saw the waves, he began to
sink. When he kept his eyes on Jesus he arrived safely at his destination.
Choosing hope is the only way to go. Our hope is based on our faith in God, not
in a God up there somewhere, but a God who is described in Matthew’s Gospel as
one who says: "I am with you all days, even to the end of the age." This
approach is not a cop out or avoidance of the problems. It is grounding our hope
on reliable promises.
One thing is evident. People are no longer in a "shop until
you drop" mode. They are sorting out their needs from their wants and limiting
their purchases accordingly. Talking with family members about their needs and
what living simply means for them will help children and youth to make
adjustments with a purpose. Include the children in the planning so that they
will not be craving for unnecessary things in times of scarcity. There is a call
to be in social solidarity with the poor by sharing not just from our surplus
but even from our need. It reminds me of the years I was growing up in my native
land, Ireland. Our family motto was: "If we have more than we need. It belongs
to someone who has less." Poverty was a way of life for most people there but
they were willing to share their resources with people who had even greater
needs.
We can share words of encouragement and hope with people who
are struggling to survive. We can also gather in small groups and discuss ways
to support each other.
Faith communities can facilitate such gatherings and
discussions and come up with some creative solutions for local needs.
This is a time to evaluate the moral and ethical aspects of
our economy and discern what "option for the poor" that the global church has so
frequently talked about, really means. In the past, poverty brought new
creativity and action for the common good.
There is a call to re root ourselves in God, whose supply of
mercy and compassion never goes bankrupt. We are also called to bring justice
and peace into our political, social and economic life and work to empower those
who are dispossessed..
Many times we see waves of compassion following natural
disasters or in times of great need. That can be our response during these
difficult times. The hopelessness we see need not be a disaster. It offers us an
opportunity to develop a genuine trust and hope in God who really cares. It will
help us realize that many of the foundations we built upon were on shaky ground.
There is a new call to a revolution in our values, away from material wealth and
militarism, and to create communities of compassion, peace and opportunity for
all people. Hope comes at a price. It is more than making a wish list. It means
expecting that God’s providence and compassion will see us through. It is a good
thing to name our hopes and count our blessings, especially in dark times, and
work to make our hopes create something new. Complaining will not help. We
become stronger and more compassionate by sharing hope.
People of any age or condition can join in the response. A
valuable contribution we can call make is to act hopefully and in that way,
bring encouragement to those on the brink of despair. A call to hope means to be
hopeful even when there are few visible signs. Sometimes the darkest hour is
before the dawn. We can all pray and work for God’s outcome for ourselves and
others Together we can move the stones of poverty, violence and disease. Our
efforts however small, can make a difference. With common trust in our God, we
truly can move mountains. We are as small as our fear and despair, and as great
as our courage and hope.
Sr. Brenda Walsh is a Racine Dominican
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Dominican Preaching Archive
 Preaching
is at the heart of the Dominican vocation. The Dominican Leadership
Conference claims for all members of the Dominican Family the right to
preach, and commits itself to the struggle this claim entails. The
injustices of our day compel us to place the charism of preaching at the
service of the poor and powerless. The Dominican prophetic message, rooted
in experience, study and prayer, will move both preachers and hearers of the
word to act for the transformation of oppressive structures. The Conference
on its part will act corporately, confronting evil with the Gospel and
working for the construction of a just world order.We
embrace the mission of preaching for justice with a commitment to act in
collaboration with one another and all those with and among whom we minister
------Dominican Leadership Conference
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