Dear Parishioners,

In order to prepare myself for this Jubilee Year whose theme is “Pilgrims of Hope,” I have been reading Pope Benedict’s encyclical “Spe Salvi” (Saved by Hope). In this encyclical, he says something really profound that I would like to reflect on. He says, “[The capacity to suffer for the sake of the truth is the measure of humanity.” (39)

I find this statement to be a really profound summary of why people are willing to suffer even when they have nothing material to gain. It is one thing to suffer if you know you will achieve something in the end. For example, people suffer by working long hours in order to make money or going through childbirth for the good of having a baby. People even exercise for the good of having a healthier and more attractive body. However, according to Jesus, people who follow Him will suffer for the sake of righteousness and truth. (see Matthew 5:112) We see this kind of suffering chiefly in the martyrs who give their lives for Christ but also in anyone who had to lose a job or a supposed friend because they desire to be a Christian. This kind of suffering does not make sense in a worldly sense and has endlessly confused worldly people about the Christian life.

So, why are Christians willing to suffer? It is because we believe the truth matters. Jesus says that He is the truth. (John 14:6) If we are not loving the truth, we are not loving Christ. If we are living by what is true, we are living for our own desires and well-being. You may be able to live a physically prosperous life this way. But, you will not grow in the life that matters for all eternity. People have to live in the hope of Christ or they will be pushed by the world into greater and greater evil. The examples of this lack of adherence to the truth are plentiful. The reason we have elected abortion and euthanasia is that we fail to recognize the dignity of the human person. The reason we have people who believe they can change their gender is because we are not adhering to the truth of the human body. The reason why so many people give into temptations of greed and take advantage of other people for wealth is because they value material goods over being good to others. People can avoid their duty to pray and attend Mass on Sunday because they value material goods over spiritual goods or don’t prioritize worship of God over recreation.

The cure to this giving into the world is the theological virtue of hope which is defined as a supernatural trust in God and the goods He promises us. As this hope is eroded away in public life as well as private and many people actively try to extinguish faith in others, we more and more give in to the ways of worldliness. So, as Catholics and Christians, we need to say no to the world in our own lives and be willing to let people think what they want about us. We need to fortify ourselves with prayer and the sacraments. We need to value the good of people over the good of things. And when we do that, we will have a joy with which this world cannot compete: the joy of knowing and loving our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope. Trust in Him.

God Bless!

Fr. Carter