by Nadia Ramoutar  MMM Communications Coordinator             Ireland                   27.04.2024 

Sitting recently with some MMM Sisters we were discussing world events. The news of even more warfare in the world can be so discouraging. The images of injured children and demolished homes do not get easier to view.

It seems that the human world’s history is stuck in a repeat loop. Haven’t we been in such dark time before? Aren’t we scared of what world leaders will do next or not do next? What can we do to make thing better or easier for people in such dire situations?

The sense of being overwhelmed is very real. So what can we do to change things when we are upset and discouraged about world affairs? The idea that the answer to this is to be calm and to go within seems erroneous, but when things get stressful and fear starts to infiltrate, this really is the critical point for activating faith.

In Luke 14:27 we are remind that God’s peace is available to us. Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” We are not being offered a life free of any trouble or heartbreak, but the peace exists for us, despite the world’s trouble. This peace comes to us even when the circumstances of life can disturb us.

When life is going our way it is easy to be faithful. When we are getting our prayers answered we seem to be in the flow of things. But, what about the times when things seem unfair, challenging or even unbearable? What then? The truth is that having faith in dark times requires courage, which comes from the French word for heart. Despite the darkness we must have courage to believe in our hearts regardless what our mind knows.

In Victor Frankl’s famous book (that I have read several times) about the Holocaust, “Man’s Search for Meaning”, he describes the moment in which he stepped out in courage and literally saved his own life.

“Dr. Mengele turned my shoulders not to the right, that is to the survivors, but to the left, to those destined for the gas chamber. Since I couldn’t make out anyone I know who was sent left, but recognised a few colleagues who were directed to the right, I walked behind Dr. Mengele’s back to the right. God knows where the idea came from and how I had the courage.”

While Frankl’s mother, father, brother and all wife were killed in the gas chambers he somehow managed to survive. He said that it was love that comforted him in the darkest hours of his time there. Frankl lived to be 92 years old and used his life to bring much wisdom and compassion to generations of people.

As we face the week ahead may we have the courage to make the right turns.