Published 09-22-24

FR. DAN SHAUGHNESSY

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In many ways, the world today has been overcome by a great deal of darkness. For all intents and purposes, we are living in a post-Christian culture. Christianity is no longer the dominant or influential force in society. And I think the temptation can be to fall into despair. That said, don’t lose hope. Trust in God’s Providence.  

I’m often drawn to the man born blind in John Chapter 9, when I become overcome by the darkness of the world and a culture of death. In His reaction to the episode in the Gospel, Jesus tells us that often, those who claim to have sight, are the ones who truly cannot see. In the struggle, Jesus invites us to understand our blindnesses in a different way. Sometimes, God dims our spiritual senses because if we fully saw the path before us, we might not follow where God leads us. Or, sometimes the darkness allows us to see things that we would never ever see in the light.  

Regardless, God invites us today to trust in the moments of darkness, putting friends in our lives to walk with us in our struggles. In times of uncertainty, we can trust that Jesus is walking by our side through confusion and into the light of the Resurrection.

Let’s ask for the trust to follow Jesus through our dark moments and into the light.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Dan Shaughnessy