In Hard Times We Find Strength in the Lord
Most of you will be receiving this issue of the NC Catholics during Holy Week – the most sacred time of the liturgical year. On Holy Thursday, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and said to them, “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:14-15). On Good Friday Our Lord Jesus suffered and died, and on Easter Sunday, He was raised from the dead, giving us the sure and certain hope that the Light has conquered the darkness and that suffering and death have no power over us.
The humble service and example of Jesus on Holy Thursday challenges us in a particular way, especially in light of the current economic situation in our state and country. I know that many people within our Diocese, within the State of North Carolina and across the country are experiencing extremely difficult times because of the economy. Unprecedented numbers of people have lost jobs, are underemployed, or fear the loss of their jobs. There are serious concerns about loss of homes, loss of health insurance and loss of income.
Our Catholic Charities offices across the Diocese continue to serve thousands of people each year. Because of the downturn in the economy, some of those who have been volunteers in the past are now being served as clients. During 2008, six of the Catholic Charities offices in the Diocese of Raleigh provided emergency food assistance to 32,575 people. Catholic Parish Outreach alone, which runs the largest food pantry in Wake County, distributed 775 tons of groceries to hungry families. The month of January 2009 saw an increase of 25% in the number of people served over a year ago. Thankfully, the number of volunteer hours has increased by a similar percentage. In the midst of this economic turmoil, our Catholic faithful in the Diocese are living out what Saint Paul called us to do when he said, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Our Diocese is not immune to the turbulence in the economy. Regular salary increases for central office diocesan employees have been frozen through June 2010. Our dedicated priests and consecrated religious also have agreed to no increase in their salaries. Open positions will not automatically be filled without review, and most budget line items are frozen. Many of our parishes are experiencing similar circumstances. It is a time for us to focus on which needs and services are most important at this time.
In the midst of the economic uncertainty, even the best economists do not have an immediate answer to resolve the financial turbulence. However, we can find spiritual grounding in our Catholic faith. The temporal things of this world are not the things that give lasting peace and hope. The eternal things of this world—the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist, the Word of God in Sacred Scripture and the Teaching of the Church—are what offer us lasting peace and hope. Saint Paul spoke of that hope in the midst of fear when he said “knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
For those who see the impact of the economic crisis and ask what they can do to help, we can turn once again to the words of Our Lord Jesus: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 26:35). Jesus then said, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 26:40). As Catholics, we are taught to see the face of the Lord Jesus in each of those whom we encounter, especially in the poor and the poor in spirit.
For those who may be affected by this very difficult economy, please be assured of my daily prayers. For those who may be losing hope because of the ongoing economic circumstances, I ask that you place your trust in the one unchanging truth – Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our rock and the foundation of our lives. As Saint Paul said, “I have strength for everything through Him who empowers me” (Philippians 4:13).