In a year marked by devastating conflicts and atrocities across the globe, it is all too easy to succumb to despair or resignation in the face of such immense human suffering. Yet even amidst the bleakest of circumstances, glimmers of hope continue to shine through the darkness – embodied in the tenacious optimism and solidarity of those who refuse to turn away.
Mysticism With Open Eyes
The late German theologian Johann Baptist Metz, whose early life was shaped by the horrors of Nazism, passionately advocated for a “mysticism with open eyes” – a hopeful outlook that clear-sightedly bears witness to the anguish of others and labors to alleviate it. In a new collection of speeches on the subject, Pope Francis reflects on this concept’s enduring relevance:
Metz’s political theology was a passionate warning against the danger of a self-absorbed Christian piety. Instead he urged a hopeful “mysticism with open eyes” – one that clear-sightedly bears witness to, and seeks to alleviate, the suffering of others.
– Pope Francis
One need not share Metz’s religious convictions to appreciate the power of this message. At a time of year associated with renewal and rebirth, it serves as a poignant reminder to confront the world’s pain with eyes and hearts wide open.
Bearing Witness to Catastrophe
2024 has born tragic witness to the unrelenting brutality of war, with the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan leaving heartbreaking civilian tolls in their wake:
- More than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians killed since Russia’s invasion began
- Innocent casualties, including children, in Israel’s bombing of Gaza
- 43,000+ soldiers fallen on both sides in Ukraine, per Kyiv’s estimates
Confronted by human catastrophe on such an immense scale, the temptation to avert our eyes or succumb to a paralyzing sense of helplessness is strong. Yet in the midst of unfathomable loss, everyday heroes have shown the world what it means to keep hope alive against all odds.
Profiles in Committed Hope
From Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo, inspiring individuals have put their own lives on the line to bring aid and comfort to those most in need:
- War Child workers in Gaza braving lethal risks to support 100,000+ children
- MSF clinics in Congo providing solace to thousands of sexual violence survivors
- Activist Alexei Navalny sacrificing his life to defend democratic convictions
These extraordinary acts of individual courage and compassion, undertaken at immense personal cost, stand as luminous testaments to the resilience of the human spirit. They remind us that even in the face of staggering adversity, we each have the power to kindle hope through our actions.
Seeds of Momentous Change
At times, a single brave choice can ignite the sparks of momentous cultural change. In France, Gisèle Pelicot’s insistence on holding the trial of her rapists in public was an act of solidarity with fellow survivors that has fueled an overdue reckoning:
Her courage has raised hopes of lasting and belated cultural change.
While the path forward is arduous, Pelicot’s fortitude points the way toward a world in which victims need not suffer in silence and shame. Her refusal to be cowed serves as a lodestar for the power we each hold to catalyze critical conversations and transformations.
Navigating Toward the Light
In the coming year, when peacemaking must become the world’s foremost priority, a resilient faith in our shared ability to navigate through the darkest of times toward a brighter future feels indispensable. The Pope’s seasonal reflections on the nature of hope, while grounded in Catholic theology, hold wisdom for secular audiences as well:
Ahead of a year in which peacemaking must become the world’s absolute priority, a Metzian faith in our ability to navigate through the worst, towards the light, feels like a decent starting point.
Regardless of our individual beliefs, the turn of the year invites us to renew our commitment to building a world animated by empathy, compassion, and an indefatigable insistence on the dignity of every human life. The shining examples of those who have held fast to hope in the face of unspeakable anguish beckon us forward, illuminating the way.
In a time of heart-rending sorrow, when resignation and indifference beckon seductively, the choice to confront suffering with conviction and care is nothing less than revolutionary. As we reflect on the year gone by and set our sights on the one to come, may we each find the courage to bear witness to pain, and the fortitude to transmute it, through acts of solidarity and love, into the building blocks of a more just and peaceful world.
