The more difficult the times, the stronger our hope must be

Our times call for prophecy, like the singing of Miriam and Hannah and of Mary who sang: “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.” The people awaited the Messiah — Emmanuel, God with us — who would keep their hope alive. 

In these difficult times of weakened nations, to the point of dehumanizing authoritarianism, only the Magnificat can keep us steadfast in charity, faith, and hope that does not disappoint.

Phoebe was a woman filled with the hope of the Magnificat, a woman deacon welcoming those forcibly displaced from their lands.

Today, we are challenged to maintain hope in these exceptional times, when attempts are being made to overthrow democracies and fundamental rights. 

We are also living in times of transition in the Church, with a new Pope, and we women must continue to call on the Church for Spirit-guided discernment regarding the ministries of women in the Church. 

These are not easy times, but we must continue to build bridges that are strong.

In June, I wrote to Pope Leo: “As Amazonian women, we want to build bridges of inclusion, where we can overcome distances by walking together. We do not want to be ahead or behind, but together. We desire your presence as a brother and pastor to begin a dialogue on the ministry of women in the Church and the restoration of the diaconate of women, a service that we already perform and that, depending on the openness of our brother bishop, we may or may not be able to continue. Therefore, Your Holiness, I ask you to begin the dialogue and the building of bridges that will allow us to reach the peripheries of humanity, where the Church is constantly called to rebuild and to build bridges of closeness and solidarity with so many who find themselves on the margins.”

In the Amazon, we continue to be challenged by the voices of the land, which ask this of the Church: The more difficult the times, the stronger our hope must be.

–Sr. Laura Vicuña