At Catholic Charities, we are called “to witness a message of mercy and hope to a world in need.”
This task seems even harder now as we receive each day’s news. The world seems so askew — there is so much fear, so much anger. All the patterns of how things used to operate no longer seem to apply.
Yet, as Pope Leo XIV reminds us, we are called to meet each day not with fear, but with hope, confident in God’s power, might and transcendence.
At a recent silent retreat, I offered up all of the uncertainty, the exhaustion and bewilderment that I have been feeling.
And I committed to simply be present to God for six days. As I sat, two prayers from our faith’s great mystics kept coming to mind:
“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”
— St. Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582)
“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
— Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)
I wondered, how can this be? And as I sat, I was given a small glimpse of understanding. Across eternity, the complete timeline of all existence, God is present. He sees all, feels all and heals all. To God’s eyes, all that has been, is, or will be — it has already happened. And it has all been redeemed. God has prevailed.
There is nothing that we nor anyone else can do that will surprise him. There is nothing that will break him. “All things are passing away. God never changes. ... God alone suffices.” Alleluia!
Secure in this knowledge, let us witness with joy!