1/17/2020 0 Comments Dark TImes Sometimes when I watch the news or spend too much time on social media, I despair for the world that we are living in. I look at all of the bad things, all of the terrible, horrifying things that are happening around the world and even here in our own backyard and I cannot understand how we've gotten here. I cannot understand how we live in a world filled with such hatred and violence, a world full of lies and corruption, of people in power who only care for themselves and not for the people they govern. I read news articles and I know this is not the way that we are supposed to live and I feel very small and helpless against all of the horror and despair raging through the world.
And what are we supposed to do? How can we hope to combat all of the evil in the world? I am just one person, you are just one person, and what sort of power can we possibly hold against all of the darkness that surrounds us? As we've seen the wildfires spread in Australia, the massive volcanic eruption in the Philippines, and the earthquakes in Puerto Rico in the past few weeks, I've seen a plethora of posts on facebook stating things like "Mother Nature is not very happy with the way we're treating the earth and this is the consequence" and even a few that replace "Mother Nature" with "God". And everytime I see one of those posts I can't help but remember the story of when Elijah wanted to meet God in the book of Kings. (The reference is 1Kings 19:11-12) "Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." I don't remember when I first heard this passage, but I know I must have heard it at some point when I was a child because it has come into my head as a reference many times in my teen and young adult years. I have always reflected on this passage in a metaphorical sense, that God is not the cause of chaos happening around us, he's not in the fireworks of life but as I reflect on this passage in light of all that is happening in the world, I think it is true now in a literal sense as well. God is not in the fires, the floods, the earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. As I read and watch news about the corruption in the political realm and see things about the imminence of war, wars that will be fought not by the leaders that have caused such a thing but by young men and women who wish to serve and protect their country, I cannot help but think of Samuel when the Israelites asked for a king so they could be like other nations. God warns them that they will not like having a king, that they will be taxed, that their children will be sent to war, that their sons and daughters will be forced to do labor that will keep the king and his court comfortable. Still, the Israelites demand a king (1Samuel 8). Now as I read friends posts about their struggles to pay their taxes, to afford health insurance (and then medical procedures), as I see friends joining the military and their families' fear that they will be sent into a war; I can't help but think this is just what the Lord warned about when his people wanted to serve a king (or a government) that is not Him. I am reminded that just as God was not in all of the natural disasters that moved past the cavern Elijah was in, neither was he in the kings that ruled over the people of Israel. It seems as I look around at the world I am reminded of scripture passages that tell me of where God is not. Yet, I am reminded of Jesus' first address to the people when he began his ministry. His words, "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand." follow me in daily life, we know that his teaching was meant to tell us that the Kingdom of God (heaven) was not just some place up in the clouds that we would go to when we die, but a kingdom that was supposed to be here now. But how? Jesus sends his disciples to heal the sick, to cast out demons, to raise the dead, and heal the leper. St. Paul has the answer for this as well, he tells us in many of his various letters that we are the Body of Christ; it is our job to heal, to teach, to exhort, to prophecy, to speak wisdom. And indeed, we were given similar commandments through Moses; Commandments 1-5 teach us what our relationship with God should look like and Commandments 6-10 teach us about what our relationships with other should look like. Jesus quotes Moses saying the greatest commandment is, "To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself." As I have said, probably too many times at this point, I was an avid reader as a child and the wisdom in books has in many ways seeped into my consciousness. I find myself often hearing the words of Gandalf, or of Dumbledore, or of some other selfless hero when I am feeling fearful about the state of our world. I find myself, as Frodo did, saying something to the effect of "I wish none of this had ever happened" only to have the words of Gandalf replying, "So do all who live to see such times but it is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us." Words such as those speak to something inside of me, reminding me that while I may not be able to change the political culture of the world, I may not be able to stop the natural disasters happening around the world, or stop what media calls the "impending" wars, I can do my part. I can speak life, I can help heal old wounds that plague minds and hearts, I can speak hope and joy to the broken hearted; "I can laugh with those who laugh and weep with those who weep." It is as John says in the first chapter of his Gospel: "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it." Starting where I am and serving those around me with love is enough. Opening my heart to hear what God is calling me to do and taking baby steps in faith is enough. I am reminded to focus on what God is telling me I can do rather than all of the things the world is telling me I cannot do. And I truly believe that if each of us can be faithful to the small things God calls us to, we can become that bit of the Kingdom of God that is at hand and step by step we can fight back the darkness. This week, I pray that you are not discouraged by the ways that the world is sick and in need of healing and I pray that your heart is open to receiving God's call for where you can bring His light and his love to those around you. May you be blessed abundantly with his peace and his love. Blessings, Michaela
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