Have Courage and Hope

A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

The day after many people were injured due to Hurricane Helene damaging the west coast of Florida and the “Big Bend” area, and points North, there is a need for courage and hope. A hurricane isn’t the only reason for seeking courage and hope, there are also quite ordinary circumstances in relationships and families where courage is needed and an increase in hope.

Courage occurs in Holy Scripture about 42 times but here are a few verses:

• “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.” Deut 31:6
• “Be of good courage, and bring some of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.” Num 13:20
• “Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” 2 Sam 10:12
• “Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15:43

Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the willingness to act in obedience to God's calling and purposes, relying on His strength and guidance. How does one do this?

Each act of reparation, of repentance, atonement, courage and holiness, represents salve upon your open wounds (the wounds of Christ on the Cross). My Love, how willingly would I take your place to spare you so much pain. My Jesus, I fuse myself in the wounds of your hands, your feet, and your Heart. Please shield me there from temptation as we, too, are attacked in our desert on our path of life. Let my thoughts be ever upon your holy suffering when I'm attacked so that I may remain resolute in my promise to be obedient to you and to your Holy Church. My dear Lord, to relieve and to soothe your pain, we offer you all of our charitable acts, and the holy works of all your creatures.

When we suffer with Jesus, when we lay our human condition at the foot of the Cross, when we lay ourselves on the Cross next to Him, we will be in His Heart and will, ultimately, be with Him for eternity. To suffer with Jesus it is not enough to just sit about and mope about our sufferings, to despair, but it is necessary to carry our pain with courage, with the resolution of being fully aware what we've set out to do.

The situation you find yourself in might look bleak, but take courage and trust in the Lord. If you love Him with hope and trust that He will help you, when it looks hopeless, He will help.

Peace and Good,

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
September 27, 2024

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