Reflection for Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Find today’s readings here.

“Take care not to make a mistake,
for many will come in my name, saying:
“I am” and “The time has come.”
Don’t follow them!
When we hear of wars and insurrections,
don’t be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end. (Luke 21:5-11)

I stuck with this passage for a long time, not only because of the excitement of my first opportunity to write a biblical reflection for America Media, but also because I wanted to find a simple, concise way to summarize how it made me feel . This is a tall order for someone who often finds themselves going over the word limit on writing assignments. My heart and brain finally settled on one word: hope.

I think it’s especially relevant to focus on hope, which can mean many different things to people, at a time when so many are feeling anxious, upset, and discouraged.

My life’s path has led me into community and conversation with some of the most caring and caring people this world has to offer. The love I feel for my friends is unconditional, a fact for which I am immensely grateful. Three years ago, one of these friends wrote a reflection on hope.

In recounting her 17-year-old sister’s battle with cancer, she shared how her sister often made fun of the phrase “God gives the toughest battles to the strongest soldiers.” She felt that God absolutely did not give her cancer, nor was she stronger than anyone else. My friend described her sister’s analysis as a moment that “woke her up.”

It takes an intentional effort to turn toward God, instead of away from Him, in times of grief, frustration, and despair. In sharing how she found a way to build that trust, my friend introduced me to a new phrase: “God Wink.”

God Winks are times when God’s presence is clear. Events, initially considered coincidences, which seem a bit Also coincidence. The faithful choose to attribute them to some form of divine intervention. The feeling that we are cared for and loved. Divine winks can often go unnoticed for long periods of time. My friend didn’t think much of the fact that her grandmother lived next door to one of the orthopedic surgeons at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Until it matters.

It is easy to blame God, but if we are able to reach a point where we feel that the evil in the world is not of God, it then becomes even easier to find hope. In my dear friend’s eyes, hope is knowing what it feels like to trust in the constant presence of God. And the joy is knowing that his sister, more awesome than ever and now in remission, is just months away from graduating from college.

God Winks come in many shapes, forms and forms. And they are often full of grace. However, they don’t improve everything all of a sudden. There will still be many people who “will come in the name (of God), saying, “I am” and “The time has come.”

But I find so much comfort in Luke’s words today: “Don’t be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.

Much of our history remains to be written. And although people may feel terrified at times, we are far from the end.

Another amazing friend of mine made the phrase “Life is Beautiful” his personal mantra. Along with appreciating the brand’s comfortable and inspiring tees, the phrase has become a bit of a rallying cry when situations seem uncertain.

Although we still need to recognize and address the painful aspects of life, he believes there is something fundamentally good in it all. There is always something worth celebrating. Humans are fundamentally resilient. And I’m inclined to agree with him.

Life is not easy. Life is not perfect. Life is still beautiful.

To find myself working at America meanwhile, it’s a nod to God. The privilege and honor of being able to quote two of my best friends in spiritual reflection is a nod to God.

They are still there, for those who choose to look at them.