Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. – Psalm 80
Each month, I am privileged to do a half-hour segment on host Eric Gajewski’s TradCatKnight podcast. While I am not a traditionalist Catholic, Eric invites me on to talk about issues impacting the Church and the world—the kind of things I write about regularly on this blog.
Last week I was particularly troubled, as we talked about the recent elections and their potentially negative impact on the pro-life cause, and then about the ever-growing threat to world peace, freedom and security posed by the brutal and aggressive totalitarian Communist regime of China. I felt somewhat disheartened, even despairing—until Eric reminded me that our hope is in Christ, and in the intervention of our Blessed Mother.
Then he invited me to conclude with some thoughts on the Advent season; and I responded by picking up on that message of trust in God that he had just pulled me back to, amid all the distressing, even frightening developments in the temporal world.
I noted that Advent is the season of hope—our ultimate hope, in the birth of our Savior, who alone can give us that peace that the world cannot give; and who promises us, in the midst of all our earthly tribulations, redemption with Him in the glory of God.
Then at daily Mass last Saturday, the words above, that we prayed in the Responsorial Psalm, reminded me yet again that our hope is in our Lord, not in earthly leaders, or policies, or systems of government.
Yes, as Catholics we are called to be involved in the affairs of the “earthly city”: to work to protect life, promote justice, advance peace, defend freedom, alleviate human suffering and improve the human condition.
But as we do so, we are well reminded, as I was last week, not to despair when our efforts seem not to bear fruit, when injustice and evil seem triumphant.
We are reminded by the words of the Psalm to turn to God, seek His face, pray for the faith to put our hope and trust in Him; knowing that only then shall we, and our troubled world, be saved.
What better time than Advent to renew that hope.
Rick Hinshaw: Reading the Signs 
Thank you for your reflection Rick and recognizing our too often weakness of faith in these very troubled times. I am often reassured with this Divine Mercy closing prayer:
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Walter, for sharing that Divine Mercy closing prayer. A blessed and merry Christmas to you and your family.
LikeLike