Connections

Starving for Hope!

There is no denying the momentous changes occurring in our country these past months. Certainly the election of Barack Obama, regardless of one’s politics, signals a significant shift nationally. Anyone who watched—or participated—in the inauguration on January 20 couldn’t help but be caught up in the sense of change that was heralded. The excitement was palatable. And his inauguration speech signified major shifts in US policies globally as well. The country has been told—we can longer afford business as usual either nationally or globally.

But it’s more than just a new president.

It is so appropriate that the March for Life was held in Washington, DC only two days after the inauguration. Though there is an ecumenical dimension to the march, it really is a very public display of the Catholic Church. The March is perhaps the most public way the Church speaks to the country’s leadership about our core values and our commitment to our social teachings. And the intergenerational aspect reflects our entire faith community celebrating the call to be people of Eucharist and people of justice.

But it’s more than just the march.

Though all of this sounds very positive and optimistic, perhaps the most significant factor affecting our ministry is the impact of the economic downturn and, for some dioceses still, the payouts from the sexual abuse scandals. Story after story is being told of budgets being slashed, salaries frozen, staff reductions, and even youth ministry offices closing or expecting to be closed soon. Pastoral positions continue to be combined into a single person wearing multiple ministry ‘hats’. There is a somber tone when we speak about our parish and diocesan ministry and the future work of the federation. There is a distinct sense of déjà vu—we’ve been here before.

I think we are starving for hope.

We see a glimpse of this hunger in our country’s deep expectation that our new president can make a significant difference in the economy, in the climate, and in our global reputation. Likewise, we are excited about our national commitment to once again be the embodiment of those values that we hold dear: justice, liberty, and freedom. We really want Obama to be right when he says “yes we can”, we need him to be right, we want him to succeed because the alternative is too painful to consider.

And we sense this hopeful yearning in our Church as we strive to be a community of compassion, of inclusivity, of forgiveness, of welcome and of discipleship, knowing that only if we embody Gospel values at all levels of Church can we have any moral authority in the public arena.  As Church, we must “earn the right to be heard” if we are to truly evangelize and transform culture.

But sometimes the heaviness weighs on us like a blanket and we can find small cause for hope. We see need on every side, hear questions without answers, and feel hunger that no food satisfies. Can feel like we are starving.

And sometimes, the gentle, persistent power of God’s love asserts itself within us and will not be denied until it buds forth, then bursts full flower. Paul reminds us “ … we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint…” (Rom. 5: 3-5).

It is time for each of us to recommit—in every arena in which we minister—to be ambassadors of hope for a sometimes starving Church and a starving country.