Things have been... not good lately. Thus, I am really unsure about posting this for fear of inadequate interpretation. However, it is simply an excerpt from the newsletter I picked up in church today and I really love what it says about faith in general.
Faith is the only thing that is keeping my hopes up a little bit in all of the unfortunate circumstances that have occurred. Eric has been a total sweetheart in all of this and continues to tell me to, "Have faith." We both found this passage to be true and the piece by Gerald Darring about it truly did help lift my spirits a bit as well. Here is the quote that the piece is based on (God always knows what to say) -He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith? -Mk 4:39-40
We humans are full of pride. We depend on our own resources and think we can solve any problem by applying our wit and energy.
Meanwhile, the problems pile up. Wars proliferate. Hunger abounds. The ecology deteriorates. There is poverty, homelessness, unemployment. Frustration drives some to crime. Others seek relief in drugs.
Perhaps one day we will realize that it will take more than our feeble efforts to rid the world of these problems. It will take the power of God, the one who shut within doors the sea and made the clouds its garment.
Humans alone against the great injustices of the world are like the disciples in the boat during the storm. They are helpless, unable to control these primal forces.
If only they would realize that they have with them the Lord of the universe, the one who can make the wind and the sea obey!
If only they would not be so lacking in faith, then maybe, by joining their efforts with the power of the almighty God, they could say to all the warmongers and haters and oppressors of the world: Quiet! Be still!
| “Any interpretation that restricts the human predicament to a single, well-circumscribed problem, soluble through structural changes alone, is bound to be dangerously one-sided. Even to expect the solution of all human suffering or all social justice from revolution or social reform is to prepare oneself for bitter disillusionment.” U.S. Bishops, Pastoral Letter on Marxist Communism (1980) 32 |
