Times of crisis

In the gospels are recorded some apocalyptic texts.  It is not easy to differentiate in these texts the message that can be attributed to Jesus from the concerns of the first Christian communities, caught up in tragic situations while they anxiously await, amid persecutions, the endtime.

According to Luke, difficult times are not to be times of laments and discouragement.  It is not the time to be resigned or to flee either.  Jesus has another idea.  Times of crisis precisely are to “lead to your giving testimony.”  It is then that we are given the best opportunity to give witness to our adherence to Jesus and his program.

We have, for five years already, been going through a crisis that is hitting many people hard.  By now, what happened allows us already to know realistically the social harm and suffering it is generating.  Hasn’t the moment come to ask ourselves how we are reacting?

Perhaps, the first thing is to look again into our fundamental attitude:  Have we taken a responsible stance, awakening in us a basic sense of solidarity, or are we living with our backs turned on everything that can disturb our tranquility?  What are we doing, starting from our groups and Christian communities?  Have we drawn a line of action that is generous, or do we live celebrating our faith on the sidelines?

The crisis is opening an unjust social rift between those of us who can live without fear of the future and those who are being excluded from society and being deprived of a dignified outcome.  Don’t we feel the call to introduce some “cuts” in our life so that the next few years we live more soberly and in greater solidarity with others?

Little by little we are getting to know more closely those who are becoming more helpless and without means (families without any income, the long-term unemployed, sick immigrants …).  Do we bother opening our eyes to see if we can make the commitment to alleviate the situation of some people?  Can we think of some realistic initiative coming out of our Christian communities?

We must not forget that the crisis does not only create material impoverishment.  It gives rise, besides, to insecurity, fear, powerlessness and experience of failure.  It ruins plans, sinks families, destroys hope.  Don’t we have to recover the importance of help among families, support among neighbors, acceptance and companionship from the Christian community …?  Few things can be nobler at this time than our learning to care for one another.

José Antonio Pagola

November 17, 2013
33 Ordinary Time (C)
Luke 21, 5-19