At first glance, the bloody start to 2015 in this country gives one the feeling that certain elements of the society have gone stark raving mad. And while the authorities are making all sorts of statements and promises about curbing the runaway gangland type murders, the public continues to cringe at the extent of the carnage.
Meanwhile everyone keeps wondering about real justice in our broken land, calling for it silently in their daily prayers.
Paul Pennick, writing in the booklet Living Faith, stated, “Working for justice in this world is a mighty task. Few can ignore the compelling evidence of mistreatment, inequality and oppression of the weak and vulnerable. What a massive challenge God asks us to undertake. Where to start?
“The first place—maybe the best place—is on our knees. Prayer can open our hearts to action. It can energise our spirits.”
Pennick continued, “We are formed in the image of our God. There is a path for each of us. It may emphasise prayer. It may tap into our financial resources. It may call us to act with others against injustice. We may fail; we may see success. But whatever the outcome, we cannot stand idle in the face of injustice. God is with us. Our hands are in His.”
This brings into focus a verse from the Prophet Isaiah (42:6) which reads:
“I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you and set you
As a covenant of the people.”
If we heed the words of Msgr Stephen Rossett, a clinical professor at the Catholic University of America in Syracuse, New York, and visiting professor at the Gregorian University in Rome, wrote in Living Faith a piece he titled, Confidence in the midst of fear. It stated:
“Every believer I know struggles with trusting in God. Instead we worry about many things; natural disasters, terrorists and global warming, not to mention the daily fear of getting sick, not having enough money and a variety of personal, daily concerns.”
He said he sympathised with the disciples in the boat in St Mark’s gospel. “It was nighttime, the winds started to blow and their small boat was tossed about. Then a figure comes to them walking on the water and they thought it was a ghost. They cried out in fear.”
Msgr Rossetti added, “We all want to trust in God. But it is unlikely our fears will disappear in the future. You and I will probably worry about something until the day we die. But in the midst of our fears, we can promise to raise our eyes to Heaven and be confident that our prayer will be heard. This confidence, in the midst of our fears, is real trust in God.”
Therefore, putting your trust in God is a resolution that could impact heavily on yourself, your family, your neighbours and ultimately, your parish community. What this all means is that if you put your trust in God and pray sincerely for our beleaguered land, the killings would decrease, there would be a decline in the overwhelming areas of corruption and generally an improved society.
Jennifer Christ suggests that we find a deserted place to pray. “Speak to the Son, Emmanuel, who has come to you in all this bustle.”
Calpysonian Stalin once sang, “We can make it if we try.” This is still applicable today and Catholics need to become more involved if our broken land is to be healed. Therefore the Third Pastoral Priority—Regenerating the Moral and Spiritual Values of our Society—is very possible. We can make it if we try.
Vernon Khelawan is media relations officer of Catholic Media Services Ltd (Camsel), the official communications arm of the Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain. Its offices are located at 31 Independence Square. Telephone: 623-7620.