Finding Strength and Hope in the Midst of Uncertainty
In recent weeks, perhaps some of you have been following the news surrounding the death and funeral of Pope Francis. No other religious leader is looked to by so many around the world as the Pope, and this pope led by example, showing us all the humble ways of Jesus, and importance of caring for the poor and welcoming of all. As the world looks to the process of electing a new pope, I, along with loads of others, decided to watch the 2024 movie “The Conclave” recently, which depicts a fictionalized version of the procedure of the cardinals gathering from around the world to elect a pope.
In the movie, the actor Ralph Fiennes plays the head of the College of Cardinals, who is tasked with managing the election. At the start of the proceedings, he delivers an impassioned homily, saying:
“…over the course of many years in the service of our Mother the Church, let me tell you, there is one sin which I have come to fear above all others. Certainty. Certainty is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance... Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt. If there was only certainty, and no doubt…there would be no mystery…and therefore no need…for faith…”
As we celebrated Confirmation Sunday on April 27th, Pastor Susan and I, along with the eight 9th graders affirming their faith shared about questions of faith. We asked the students to reflect on what their big questions are, and what they do with those questions…who can they go to with them?
There are so many things in our lives and our world that cause us to wonder. At a workshop I was at recently, Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis of Luther Seminary spoke of the verse that says “And Mary pondered all these things in her heart” after the birth of Jesus. Lewis shared that the word “pondered” in Greek, even though we may have an image of a serene, thoughtful, peaceful Mary in our heads, literally means “to throw together”…as in a multitude of thoughts were thrown together and circling around in her head.
There is so much that we cannot control in our lives and our world as we try to make sense of it all. And I believe instead of circling into anguish or despair at what we cannot control, as people of faith, we have solid ground to stand on. Knowing that God is with us always, and is at work in all things can give us hope, a sense of peace in the midst of things we cannot understand, and strength for each new day.
This month, there is excitement around the upcoming “Living Your Purpose” women’s retreat that we are hosting here on Saturday, May 17th. The speakers that have been lined up – Deb Hadley, Anne Broderius, and Beth Radloff-Costello, will help us to lean into our faith, in spite of circumstances beyond our control, and remind us of who we are in God’s world. Resilience, gratitude, and strength come through hardships and experiences in life, and how we respond to uncertain and unexpected things in life pave our way for the path ahead.
Ladies of all ages, I hope you can come to the retreat. For all of us, be reminded of who you are in Christ Jesus – beloved, created for a purpose in this world, encouraged to use your gifts wherever you are, in service to God and to neighbor. This is the walk of discipleship.
Blessings on the journey as we walk together!
Pastor Amy
