Take Courage

Speaking at the University of Notre Dame's 165th Commencement, NBC Anchorman, Brian Williams listed a number of current global woes and challenged the class of 2010 to find the solution to them, assuring them of his confidence in their intelligence and ability to do so. Valedictorian, Katie Washington, has already begun with her work on mosquitoes and malaria in Haiti. Sitting among the other 1,829 graduates was a man named Sean Marx whose goal is to become a member of Doctors Without Boarders, and also devote his energy, faith and life to bring both physical and spiritual healing to Third World Countries where good health and a sense of hope run thin.
As Jesus was preparing to leave his disciples, he reminded them, "In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." (Jn 16: 33). Yes, his death and resurrection conquered sin, death and the power of evil, but through his Holy Spirit poured into the hearts of the likes of Katie and Sean, and the rest of us, he conquers these and even the physical evils of disease and poverty, and implants hope for a better world. Commencement speakers over the next several weeks will be presenting similar challenges to our best and brightest. For them and for us, the words of Jesus these words of Jesus ring with special clarity and assurance. Together with Jesus, those of us who have labored for years, and these new graduates, we shall "conquer the world."
Bro. Rene