In His Name We Find Hope
The relationship
with his presence dominates because it re-appears with evidence in every
experience...
If the judgement called faith
dominates life, you see it in the fact that this being seized is what comes
forth in the way we face all the circumstances of life; it comes forth by
default, as they say, as when one, no matter what experience she has, no matter
what happens to her, is invaded by the memory of something she cares about, a
presence she cares about. So then, you see that the relationship with his
presence dominates because it re-appears with evidence in every experience; I
do not invent it when I need it. I do not create it when faced with the
dramatic circumstances of living. It comes to mind, imposes itself on me, in
front of all the circumstances, be they beautiful or ugly. At times, they are
more meaningful when they are beautiful because they are less at risk of "being
invented"; when they are ugly, since there has to be some meaning, one can
run the risk of inventing a meaning. When life is full, this risk lessens: that
acknowledgement imposes itself and that memory arises, because I cannot watch
the sunset or look at the beauty of the mountains, or an evening together,
without the emergence of that urgent need, that strong pressure to say his
name.
FATHER JULIAN CARRON
Father Carron is a Spanish priest and
professor of theology
at the University of Milan.
at the University of Milan.