Mercy Mondays: Chaplain’s Corner – Fr. Raymond Malm’s thoughts on spring and hope

Having just celebrated the great feast of Easter in the midst of the new life that spring brings, I want to share my thoughts and beliefs.

We can focus on the beauty of life, all the gifts that that life gives, but at the same time we know that all is not well. It is easy to become heavily saddened by the war in Ukraine, the uptick in violence in our country, and the disrespect of people about their beliefs, religion or customs. Looking at all of these problems is certainly discouraging.

Fr. Raymond Malm

Where does the solution lie?

I go back to Holy Week and Easter. At the Last Supper, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, then turned and said, “If I, your Teacher and Lord, wash your feet, you must wash one another’s feet.”

There it is—it falls right in our lap. The solution is looking forward with hope in our service of one another and a total disrespect for violence.

Another principal of hope is that “the Universe is on the side of Justice.” All of God’s creation yearns and leans toward justice; it is in the very core of our being.

This gives me hope, it moves me to look at the world in a different light. All of creation, all of my being leans toward justice.

Let’s go back to the first line of my reflection—the great feast of Easter. Easter is the feast that conquers death; it brings life, resurrection, and power into our lives. The Holy Spirit gives us that power over evil to lean toward and to bring about justice.

It comes about by realizing the power of the Spirit in us, lived out in service of one another.

Offered by Fr. Raymond Malm, chaplain at the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life

This post is part of an ongoing series called Mercy Mondays that highlights Salve Regina’s dedication to its Mercy Mission. Search the tag Mercy Mission for more updates on the Mercy branches of Salve Regina.