Sustaining hope
Terror on every side!
Sounds like our world today, does it not? We can’t look hardly anywhere in the world and not see conflicts, wars, natural disasters, destruction, displacement of millions of people and loss of lives, to name a few. On top of all that, there’s been the loss of much funding and resources to address these immense problems locally, nationally and globally.
We who work in agencies like Catholic Charities or Catholic Relief Services may well feel like Jeremiah in today’s First Reading — persecuted and denounced for the good works we have been trying to do. Yes, even Jesus faced stoning and potential arrest for tying His good works to His intimacy with the Father. And as we know, that arrest would come on Holy Thursday night.
Yet in spite of all this, Jeremiah, Jesus and each one of us have reason to hope: a hope that keeps us from falling into ultimate despair, and to continue those good works which rescue the lives of the poor and vulnerable. It is that hope which allowed Jeremiah to sing to the Lord and to praise the Lord. It is the hope which allowed Jesus to complete His Mission. And it is that very same hope which sustains and allows us to keep going in these uncertain and perilous felt times.
So, how do we?
Though no longer employed at my local Catholic Charities, that agency remains a vital partner of mine in my pastoral work at my two parishes. I recently led a retreat for the staff there on Sustaining Hope. I offered the following three critical points I believe are necessary to sustain hope:
Prayer and Meditation: These ground us, bring us back to the present moment, and help us manage fears of the unknown. They foster calm, steady resolve and empower us to face the future with clarity and peace. We must stay inwardly centered in these times of uncertainty.
Community: Connections to others strengthen us. We are not alone. Our relationships with friends, family and community create a critical support network. By reaching out, sharing burdens and offering mutual support, we bolster our abilities for collective resilience.
Service: We channel our inner struggles into outward action and continue to serve and make a positive difference in the lives of others wherever we can. In spite of new obstacles, there will always be opportunities before us — even if only in little ways — in which we help another and bring some hope to them which, in turn, nourishes our own hope.
Every act of love and gesture of kindness matters and makes a difference. As the patroness of one of the parishes I oversee, St. Teresa of Calcutta said: Do small things with great love!
Deacon Lucio Caruso has served in pastoral work for nearly 50 years, 16 of which were with Catholic Charities. Today he serves as Pastoral Administrator at two multicultural and multi-lingual parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville.