The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”
-Hebrews 11:1-2
These past couple months have been overwhelmingly heavy to carry. As an elementary teacher in Texas, hearing about the Uvalde shooting left my soul trembling. I remember seeing it on the news and hearing it from my coworkers. Uvalde being less than two hours away from where I work, I went to bed that night dreading walking into my classroom. The only thing I could think of was how I could protect my kids for the days to come. Since that day, the world has felt like a never-ending ferris wheel of tragedy, loss, heartbreak, and more.
It is in times like these where we question the Lord’s goodness; In times where there is no comfort, no peace, and no way to heal. It’s hard to fathom tragedy and understand or rationalize great evil. I remember falling asleep that night questioning the emptiness I felt in my heart. In my anger and sadness I felt the smallest sliver of peace and hope, I reluctantly reminded myself that His goodness still persists. It was uncomfortable to say the least. I didn’t want to hand over this fear and anger at the world that I was feeling. There were no words I could say, no prayers I could pray to help relieve my heart. So I was left with silence…and in the silence He spoke. In the heartbreak I was reminded that I may not see, but I may hope. The only thing to cling to was hope. Hope in Him.
“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” St. Francis of Assisi
Today’s second reading reminds us of what it means to have faith and to hope, even if it is a sliver of what we have left, and even when we cannot physically see. The light of the Lord is everything even in a stadium of darkness. Our faith is like a candle. It can shine brightly even in the darkest of places. For light brings warmth even when we cannot see or understand where it resides. It draws us closer to it and to Him. In times of deep tragedy, pain, frustration, discomfort, anger, the Lord humbly waits for us to bring our suffering to Him. Not to teach us a lesson, not to tell us to be happy, not to rationalize our loss or trauma, not to condemn our emotions, but to sit with us and let us cling to Him, to cling to hope and light.
My hope is that wherever you are that you may cling to Him, hope in Him. He is the candle that never fades.
Let us pray: Lord, you are not far removed from loss or tragedy. You are here with us even in the darkness. You hold onto us, even when we have only a sliver of faith. May we come to you even in sorrow and heartbreak. You are the flame in the darkness. May we rest in it.
Kathryn Dore is just your everyday young adult striving to abide in Christ Jesus. She loves worshipping, dancing, and laughing until she cries. Her passions include good eats and spontaneous heart to heart convos. Say hi on Instagram!