Believing with joy

Friends on-line:

At the beginning of the New Year, I invite you to live with joy the gift of faith and to look at the future with a renewed faith.  These words can be perplexing at first glance, if we look far away and perceive the poverty that millions of person live, the existing violence in so many places and the economic and moral crises that shake the seemingly stable well-being of so many countries of the world.

I have read for several times the speech of Benedict XVI addressed to the Roman Curia some days before Christmas.   It has made me think in faith and the revitalization of our religious communities, of our fraternities and of the faithful in our ministries.   Do we live our faith with joy and hope?  Do we feel happy that we belong to the Church?  What are our passions and our preoccupations at the beginning of the new year?  Are we likewise tired of believing?

The Pope affirms that the economic and monetary crisis tormenting the Old Continent, in the last analysis, rests on a moral crisis.  According to him, in this situation, the Church has to make new proposals from her faith experience. «The essence of the crisis of the Church in Europe is the crisis of faith. If we find no answer to this, if faith does not take on new life, deep conviction and real strength from the encounter with Jesus Christ, then all other reforms will remain ineffective. »

A month earlier, on his trip to Benin, Benedict XVI had admired the passion for their faith in that country: « None of the faith fatigue that is so prevalent here, none of the oft-encountered sense of having had enough of Christianity was detectable there. Amid all the problems, sufferings and trials that Africa clearly experiences, one could still sense the people’s joy in being Christian, buoyed up by inner happiness at knowing Christ and belonging to his Church. From this joy comes also the strength to serve Christ in hard-pressed situations of human suffering, the strength to put oneself at his disposal, without looking round for one’s own advantage. Encountering this faith that is so ready to sacrifice and so full of happiness is a powerful remedy against fatigue with Christianity such as we are experiencing in Europe today. »

Benedict XVI also talks about the magnificent experience of the World Youth Day in Madrid. «A further remedy against faith fatigue was the wonderful experience of World Youth Day in Madrid. This was new evangelization put into practice. Again and again at World Youth Days, a new, more youthful form of Christianity can be seen. » the Pope recalls the joy of youth volunteers for this encounter, and their availability and time that were in silent adoration.   How can this joy be explained?  «But in my view-Benedict XVI says – the crucial one is this certainty, based on faith: «I am wanted. It is good that you exist. » It is good to be a human being, even in hard times. Faith makes one happy from deep within. That is one of the wonderful experiences of World Youth Days. »

May the Lord grant you the grace to believe with joy and may your faith be transformed in love and hope everyday of this new year.

Fr. Miguel Miró
General Prior
Order of the Augustinian Recollects

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