The Roots of Hope
Dear People of Hope:
What gives you hope? During recent weeks I have prayed and mentioned the depth of pain, darkness, and brokenness in our world, our country, and we need to know a path and not hide from these signs of evil and darkness. The purpose is not to focus on being negative, accusatory or falsely judgmental, but to see with open eyes the truth of these many complex issues and discover hope as we follow Jesus Christ.
Father Luigi Giussani states: “To be conscious of oneself right to the core is to perceive, at the depths of the self, an Other. This is prayer: to be conscious of oneself to the very center, to the point of meeting an Other. (God/Christ/Spirit) Thus prayer is the only human gesture which totally realizes the human being’s stature.” In the face of such division and separation, I can either isolate and be alienated or I can come to recognize that I am made by Another and in my poverty, I have a posture of begging. Giussani continues: “. . . like a flower which depends completely upon the support of its roots. So, I do not consciously say ‘I am,’ in a sense that captures my entire stature as a human being if I do not mean ‘I am made.’ The ultimate equilibrium of life depends upon this. The human being’s natural truth, as we have seen, is his nature as creation – he exists because he is continually possessed. And, when he recognizes this, then he breathes fully, feels at peace, glad.”
It seems to me this is the call to recognize that we are made by Another, continually possessed, and the more I have this awareness, I can breathe fully and feel peace with gladness even in the midst of the voices of darkness, the lying, negativity and bold accusations that are so prevalent in our world. Our wounds are important factors that are real and if we censure these wounds, we end up censoring our humanity. This is not the path to freedom and grace. Our call is to look at the darkness, pain and deception in order to be generated with hope and faith by the One to whom I belong. I do not make myself.
Pope Benedict said: “My Mother gave me the greatest gift a Mother can give a child. She gave me the gift of my Catholic Faith. This has had a profound impact on my career, and it has given me patience, compassion, and hope. One who has hope lives differently.” If we recognize and live with truth that we do not make ourselves and belong to Another we will have the hope that allows us to live differently. Even in the crisis of darkness that is so prevalent.
While there are many significant signs of hope within our parish community, our city and all the connections you discover in your own journey of faith, I want to turn to the “Special Olympics”. The disability sports had been developed, but there were none for those with intellectual disabilities until this was given to us by a woman that lived with hope, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Today in the world, 5.5 million people with intellectual disabilities participate in the games.
It was my privilege to meet Tim Shriver, the son of Eunice, and he is overflowing with passion for engagement by everyone. Yes, he is leading the Special Olympics, but he speaks to all of us. He states that we all desire to be our best selves and that means we cannot isolate ourselves, we need each other and we need to come out and engage as volunteers. We all have a tender side, he states, and a safe place for inclusion, diversity and walking together nurtures that inner self that is full of desire to learn something new. We do not flourish as human beings in private, isolated postures.
In conclusion, I quote from an article by Mark Bradford in reference to people with “intellectual disabilities”, but with the hopelessness in the world, I believe this summary points to so many people crying out for a relational life. That tender place just below the surface in all of us desires to belong. He states: “Loneliness is perhaps the greatest challenge that most people with intellectual and development disabilities experience from day to day. (Let me say, loneliness is a key factor for all people in the world today). They feel like they have no real friends and no real community outside their family.”
Our awareness of being made by Another which translates into being a relational person with real needs is the journey to hope. “One who has hope lives differently.” If I am stuck, whatever my age, gender or place in life, I have the possibility to move out of my shell and discover real meaning and purpose, and all of us here at the Co-Cathedral desire to welcome and support you. Come and see and we can support you on a new adventure. It is time to ‘to get out’.
Grateful for your way of being.