We're nearing the end of 2015. Christmas is right around the corner. The word chaos pops up fairly often, I've
noticed. Not the chaos of holiday
traffic, not the "organized chaos" of the typical household either. Lately, it's chaos as in disorder and mayhem. The word comes to us from the Greek khaos, "vast chasm, void." In the 1400's, the word denoted a chasm; later,
it referred to formless primordial matter.
It still refers to Greek mythology's first primeval goddess, Chaos,
whose name denoted "the gap," the airy space between heaven and
earth; Chaos was followed by Gaia (Earth), Tartaros (the Underworld), and Eros
(Love the life-bringer). The word also appears
in the new physics, in what is known as Chaos Theory, defined as being
"behavior so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great senstivity
to small changes in conditions."
But in normal use, chaos usually refers to utter confusion. Journalists thrive on chaotic situations; the
news this year has insured a steady supply.
The sensation of chaos has been mounting due to a build-up of threats: 1) international and domestic terrorism all
over the globe while masses of refugees seek a new life in Europe, 2) escalating
conflicts and cold wars, 3) climate change and environmental disaster, 4)
economic collapse, and 5) the ever present risk of epidemics. These threats loom in the midst of widespread
moral chaos and hot ethical debate. Happily,
our calendars and the movement of the stars insure a certain order. The sun rises and sets on time, and the moon
goes through her phases. Many of us are
about to observe another holiday season.
December the 8th, the day dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, a
holiday in Italy, is the Italians' signal to start preparing for Christmas, never
mind that advertisers and stores began pushing their season earlier than usual this
year. Some Italian merchants even
proclaimed their own "Black Friday", a major shopping event in the
U.S. on the day after Thanksgiving. These
merchants went so far as to mimic the American term, Black Friday, in a
snowballing case of what I'll call "cultural chaos". Indeed, this world keeps feeling tighter, and crazier. We need to get a grip. Getting a grip is an American expression for calming
down and taking stock so as to restore order in our affairs as well as in our
heads. In this period of chaos,
Bergoglio, as he is often referred to inside Italy, better known elsewhere as
Pope Francis, knows what really matters at a chaotic time like this. He has prescribed a spiritual cure for all
souls, an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of God's Mercy, which will conclude on November
20, 2016. This will be a year, then, for
the forgiveness of sins, for reconciliation, for conversion, and for penitence. For those of us who are not practicing
Catholics, this is still a perfect time to get a grip. If we would all lighten up and get back into
alignment with the greatest good inside ourselves, we would see and know
ourselves in every baby born (and unborn).
We would cherish the elements and the animals. Our hearts would weep at the sight of
wickedness. (We would not be entertained
by it, God forbid.) We would control our
tongues and keep busy leading non-violent lives. Money would become a means of exchange, not a
reason for being. War would be avoided
by every nation at all costs. Marital relationships
would become sacred trusts. The mirror
would no longer be a measure of one's worth.
Chaos would begin to disappear from our lives, and from the chronicles
of human society. Satan would be left outside,
looking in. We would face the future,
even death itself, with courage rather than fear, for we would know that this
Universe is as deep as it is wide--"In
my Father's house are many mansions"--and that giving and receiving Love
is what we were meant for. Should we
pass through a Holy Door during this Jubilee Year, let us not do it as an "insurance
investment," but rather, as Pope Francis intends, as a step towards our
becoming as merciful as the Lord Himself. Wishing everyone peace of mind, now and in the
coming year. Amen! UN’AMERICANA
A VENEZIA
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