During the Pandemic, Pope Francis, with journalist Austin Ivereigh, wrote a book called “Let Us Dream.” This book was a reflection on how we respond to the many crises we face globally and locally – climate change, hunger and violence. Pope Francis invites us to notice that the world is
constantly being made and that God "wants to bring forth the world with us, as partners."
If we think about the enormity of the problems facing us, especially in South Africa, it is easy to feel paralysed and overwhelmed. He challenges us instead to focus on specific and concrete needs and problems in our communities: to
remember that even when we feel powerless and afraid, we are not alone.
He identifies three things that can block us from moving forward: narcissism, discouragement and pessimism. Narcissism centres us on ourselves, so we only care about what is good for us personally. Discouragement leads to sadness and stops us from seeing what
others can offer. It eventually closes us in on ourselves, and pessimism is like shutting a door to the future.
Pope Francis suggests that the antidote to these is to commit to the small, concrete positive actions we can take in response to the need around us.
In the Gospel story of this past Sunday, the rich man knew who Lazarus was. He even knew his name. But Pope Francis says he was indifferent and let the man's suffering be his problem. "He knew Lazarus's life, but he didn’t let it affect him.” So often, perhaps we too harden our hearts and do not allow the suffering of those around us to penetrate. But we cannot let our souls be armoured. God
is never indifferent.
While we cannot do everything, we can do something, and when we feel overwhelmed not knowing what God is asking of us, we need to open ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit and ask God to show us. This opens us to God's grace bursting the banks of our own thinking.
Ask God to show you one small doable positive action you can take today to partner with God in healing the world and ask God to do it with you.
