Timeless Faith in Troubled Times

In my neighborhood in Los Angeles there are three Trader Joe’s within a couple of miles of my home. Driverless Waymo cars scurry around and same-day deliveries from Amazon are part of everyday life. Home offices, electric charging stations, Netflix, and pickleball games are the norm.

In contrast, I recently spent some time in Kenya and Tanzania, where the Maasai people lead a semi-nomadic, pastoral life. Many live in circular enclaves crafted from mud and cow dung. Their culture is built on community bonds where cattle represent wealth and social standing.   While we measure time by the Gregorian calendar and the latest tech innovation, the Massai measure life by the phases of the moon and the health of their herds.

I’ve always been aware that I live in a bubble of modern convenience – one that much of the world doesn’t share. But seeing the Maasai’s way of life firsthand drove home the realization that we all may exist on the same planet at the same time, but we are not all living in the same era.

This stark juxtaposition made me reflect on the timelessness of the Catholic Church and how it continues to speak to 1.406 billion people who, in many ways, live in vastly different worlds.

At its core, Catholicism’s timelessness comes from its unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and the continuity of a 2,000-year tradition.  That tradition provides a grounding point that transcends the immediate moment, offering meaning to people whether they are joining a Zoom call in Los Angeles or gathering around a fire halfway around the world.  Beneath all of our surface differences, we share the same fundamental human longings for meaning, connection and belonging.

Here are a few ways that the Church addresses these fundamental human questions and needs:

• Connecting with the Divine: The Church's timeless elements, such as its celebration of the sacraments, offer a direct connection to God across all periods of history.

`

• A Stable Moral and Spiritual Compass: The Church provides a universal framework for moral thinking, giving believers a source of stability amidst the complexities and anxieties of any era.

• The Communion of Saints: The lives of saints from different eras and cultures—from St. Francis of Assisi to St. Carlo Acutis—provide relatable examples of Christian living that transcend time. 

• Universal Social Teaching: The principles of Catholic social teaching, which include promoting human dignity, caring for the poor, and pursuing justice, are rooted in the gospel and are applicable across all cultures and economies.

• Service and Outreach: The Church has a long history of providing concrete aid. Whether running schools and orphanages in medieval Europe or providing food and healthcare in modern-day Cambodia.

In the end, the Church’s enduring relevance is found in its ability to speak to the universal human heart, no matter the century or setting.  Whether we navigate life by the light of a smartphone screen or the light of the moon, the Catholic faith invites us all into a story that is both ancient and new.

.