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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Early one morning this week, I watched the sun struggle to break through the clouds and the squirrels chase each other along the power lines without a care in the world. I had just finished reading the day's headlines and was feeling hopeless and angry. I shut down my laptop and sat looking out at the sky.
The first few words from A Tale of Two Cities came to mind, triggering a whole new thought pattern. It is the worst of times in many ways, but why was I giving in to hopelessness? Why not recognize the best of times?
Here we are in the Easter season. A joyful time of celebration. Just last week our youngest grandchild received his first communion. The innocent faces of the children as they processed up the aisle, and the proud parents and grandparents watching them with such love, were far more real in my life than the headlines that were getting me down. The first communion was the best of times.
Late yesterday afternoon, on a quick run to the grocery store, I saw a group of people walking toward LMU. They were dressed up and ranged from young to old. I knew it had to be a family walking over to the baccalaureate mass for the 2026 graduating class. It was, for this family, the best of times.
We are approaching the season of Pentecost when young people receive the sacrament of confirmation. These, too, are the best of times as they take another step in their faith formation, and, again, proud parents and grandparents are there to share the moment.
The best of times are different for each of us, but we know them when we see them, and they deserve recognition and celebration if only for a moment. They do not have to have major life events. The best of times can be shopping with your daughter or coaching your child’s baseball team.
The worst of times, which seem to be unfolding at a dizzying pace, offer challenges and as I was realigning my thoughts, the realization set in that faith in the goodness of God, in the beauty of nature and the kindness and integrity of most people was a much better focus than reading about cruelty, violence and corruption. It would, however, take a conscious effort.
In today’s gospel, we see confused and fearful disciples. They had not expected Jesus to rise from the dead and now he was talking about leaving them. They thought he was the one who would change the unfair systems they lived with. He did not. He was adamant about his message of love, which, if embraced, would change the world, but that would take cooperation from all corners, and that process has yet to happen. We circle the moon and ride in driverless cars, but we live in times similar to those of Jesus.
We can focus on the worst of times and be miserable and angry or we can embrace the best of times, committing ourselves to living as Jesus lived and doing what we can to bring change. It will take discipline, daily prayer and the belief in the words Jesus left his disciples, “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” It is a commitment that may need to be renewed every day, so go gently and patiently.
Peace,
Anne
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