Living Faithfully in Uncertain Times

Dear Friends,

Remember Chicken Little? In the face of impending doom, she panicked because she thought “The sky is falling in!”

Chicken Little had been dozing in the barnyard, when an acorn fell on her head. In fright, Chicken Little told Henny Penny, Cocky Locky and Turkey Lurky who all became equally distressed. They headed off to give the news to the king when they ran into Foxy Loxy, who inquired where they were going. When Foxy Loxy heard they were going to tell the king that the sky was falling in, Foxy Loxy was helpful, or so they thought. “Come on, I’ll show you a shortcut.” One by one, the birds disappeared into a hole in the ground. We all know what that meant.

All except Henny Penny, who remembered she had an egg in the barnyard ready to hatch. She ran back home, the only one spared the foolishness of fake news and panic.

Only a child’s story? Not really.

History is full of the stories of doomsday preachers who have frightened people by their preaching, crying out that the sky is falling in, meaning that the end of the world is near.

The Thessalonians in today’s second reading expected Jesus’ second coming at any moment. So, they no longer carried their share of the workload of the community. Paul strongly condemned that attitude as unworthy of Christ’s followers. That’s the point of today’s readings. We don’t know, nor does anyone else know when Christ will come again. In the meantime, we must go on with the job of living, the work of building God’s world. Neither panic nor lethargy help in these tenuous times.

These readings resonate for us, because each of us experiences personal cataclysms, earthquakes, uncertainties, wars and insurrections. We live in a complex and uncertain world. Through it all, God is faithful, and even when caught in storms, we can feel the warmth of what Malachi in today’s first reading calls “the sun of Justice with all its rays.”

But to do so, we must be/become attentive to God’s presence.

Today’s Gospel challenges us to examine our lives – to ask demanding questions about our commitments and priorities, to ask ourselves where to expend our time, energy and resources, to become increasingly of what is lasting – what will endure.

In life’s thorny circumstances, we cannot convince ourselves that God is with us with tenderness and constancy, but we do need to be open to the stunning possibility that we are surrounded, held up, shielded, propelled forward, beckoned by a God who loves us.

In essence, Jesus tells us so in the Gospel today: "When you are in deep trouble, do not be afraid. I will give you words and wisdom which no one can contradict. When you are threatened, do not be afraid. Not a hair of your head will be harmed." Jesus concludes this passage with the words: "By your perseverance you will secure your lives."

That’s it. Keep on keeping on in faith and here’s the surprise, with joy, because none of us is alone.

Take courage. Stay with one another and be with our God who is faithful and will not disappoint.

~ Sister Joan Sobala