The Monthly Note
January
“If this trend continues…”
by Jacques Lauzier, o.p.
«If this trend continues…» is the beginning of a phrase was used many times in reference to the elections. It means that a radio or television station can, based on the statistics it has received, predict which political party will win the elections.
«If this trend continues…» is the beginning of a phrase that can be used, in the beginning of this New Year, to predict what has in store for us. These past years were rich in all sorts of events, whether they are geological, astronomical, geopolitical, we can say that « if this trend continues», there is a great chance that this new year will be a cope of the past years. There will still be wars between nations, geological catastrophies (earthquakes, super tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, etc.), social, economic and political crises, governments overthrows (most probably), political assassinations (maybe) and many other events that are impossible to predict at the present time. Last year, who would have thought that the world would be at the brink of bankruptcy at the end of this year? And, « if this trend continues», the worst may yet be coming…
In their age-old peregrinations, the Jewish People (the chosen People) experienced their share of disasters: geological, social, political and religious. Everything fell upon them! Wars, plagues, persecutions, deportations etc., came one after the other. In this case, we would have been right to say: « if this trend continues, the worst is yet to come! « But, Yahweh was always present, ready to forgive and to retighten the alliances that He had made with His People. Thus, after all the these thousands of years filled of ups and downs, the Chosen People, the First born of Yahweh, could declare that «if this trend continues, God will always be there to help us get back on our feet and to guide us».
«If this trend continues» could also apply to our Church. Who could have known, fifty years ago, that our churches would be almost empty: that religion would not be taught in our so-called catholic schools; that the Quebec population would almost be dechristianized; that the clergy would be ridiculed and that the liturgy would be desacralized in the media and in the hearts. And, «if this trend continues», the worst has, maybe, yet to come.
Maybe yes but, one this is for sure: if this trend continues, the One who, speaking about His Church, that «the gates of the underworld can never overpower it (Mt 16,18)» will not let it crumble under the weight of heresies and attack targeted against Her. Furthermore, He declared that He would be with us until the end of time (Mt 28, 20). So, do we have to worry about what will happen in , in 2010 or even in 2012? No. Because He was present when it was necessary. So, if this trend has kept up until now, it will still keep up. So: Happy New Year !
