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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Thought for the Day # 16 – Tuesday March 31, 2020

“Being a Witness of Hope?”

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We need witnesses of hope. Perhaps, in our current situation, we could
find some witnesses of hope; people who have lived in a prison cell for years
but have been able to come out with their physical, spiritual and human
integrity.

In these circumstances, we can think of Nelson Mandela who spent
twenty-five years in a cell. At the age of 45, he was imprisoned. He stayed
twenty-five years before being released. He came out not just in one piece,
with human integrity of body and soul, but also with a desire of reconciliation
and a journey of reconciliation. One could ask, how can one be incarcerated
for twenty-five years and come out, so to speak, whole?

Mister Mandela himself called upon the philosophy by which he lived,
which came from his culture and his people. This philosophy through the eyes
of universal brotherhood. Because of this outlook of universal fraternity, he
never turned to hatred towards those who had put him in prison, to resent-
ment, to anger. He always remained at peace. At peace with a universal gaze on
all, as brothers. At the same time, he had a message of reconciliation, a thought
of reconciliation, an aspiration to reconciliation.

This man’s life can inspire us in these times of ours, as difficult as our
situation may be. What is the vision that dwells in me? Is it a vision which is
greater than my own situation? For example, a vision of universal fraternity,
an outlook of universal solidarity that puts us in tune with the suffering of
others, in tune with compassion towards all the people affected by the crisis,
while making a resolution, a desire to express through prayer and actions, a
solidarity with everyone.

Collection of texts by the Most Rev. Christian Lépine 27