Time to fight complacency and evil with hope

It seems that we have been receiving a great deal of discouraging news lately. The most dramatic being the tragedy that took place in Toronto earlier this week. This is why we all need some encouragement.

In the Acts of the Apostles we read, “There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the feet of the apostles” (Acts 36-37).

The money was then distributed to those most in need. Barnabas became an evangelizing apostle who worked very closely with St. Paul. He was considered a model Christian, teacher and apostle. To put it simply, he was “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24). This is the kind of person we need more of today.

It is so easy to be negative and see the problems without the possibilities. Bring a group of people together and they can very easily begin to focus on the problems and what they do not like about something or someone.

Sadly, we can become so comfortable with this way of thinking that we see it as the most practical approach to life. If you only see the problems, you are realistic. If you are not overly concerned with the problems, but look to the possibilities, then you are being unrealistic and a dreamer. Some may consider this to be an oversimplification; however, there is no question that people are becoming overwhelmed by negativity. This causes fear, uncertainty and complacency.

Pope Francis, in his most recent Apostolic Exhortation, “Gaudete et Exsultate” (Rejoice and Be Glad) writes about the meaning of holiness. He states, “My modest goal is to repropose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time, with all its risks, challenges and opportunities” (2).

He states that as followers of the Lord we are called to act with boldness and courage. We do this through the power of the Holy Spirit. “We need the Spirit’s prompting, lest we be paralyzed by fear and excessive caution, lest we grow used to keeping within safe bounds. Let us remember that closed spaces grow musty and unhealthy” (133).

Pope Francis continues: “Complacency is seductive; it tells us that there is no point in trying to change things, that there is nothing we can do, because this is the way things have always been and yet we always manage to survive. By force of habit we no longer stand up to evil … Let us rethink our usual way of doing things; let us open our eyes and ears, and above all our hearts, so as not to be complacent about things as they are, but unsettled by the living effective word of the risen Lord” (137).

In our community, senseless acts of violence, the opioid epidemic, lack of mental health support, growing poverty and homelessness, diminishing resources and increased need, are but a few of the discouraging realities we face today. How are we to react?

As followers of the risen Lord, Christians are called to be like Barnabas and bring encouragement to the world. We proclaim a message of hope knowing that things can change for the better when we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and work together rather than against one another. If we allow ourselves to be shaken out of our complacency and negativity, then we can effect positive change. As people of faith, all we need to do is believe.