Meeting challenges together with hope

What world event from the summer do you remember the most? Perhaps we can remember the joy of seeing our national soccer team play in the 2026 World Cup. But then, we can also remember stories of different disasters — from intense wildfires and very hot weather to earthquakes and severe flooding that happened around the globe. Sadly, many people died in these disasters. 

Although we may see some of these events as natural phenomena, as people of faith, these events can also make us question our faith in God the Creator. We may even ask, “Is our God still with us?” As we struggle to grasp the meaning of all these disasters in our world, the occurrences of these disasters can also be a time for us to reflect on the state of our faith in God in all these disasters. 

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So, where do we start?

As Christians, our understanding of God comes from the Bible. So, it is through the Bible that we may encounter God in many different events and with many different people. Through the Bible, we find our world connected to God. Coincidentally, on Sunday Aug. 9, the Biblical readings for the Mass offered us the opportunity to reflect on how we can find God in these difficult moments. We read about how in the midst of a chaotic situation, a frightened Prophet Elijah encountered God. In the Bible, God traditionally appears in fire, smoke, storms and earthquakes to show His supreme power and also to reveal His holy presence. And in the Gospel reading for that Sunday, we also read how the frightened disciples encountered Jesus’ presence in their chaotic situation on the stormy sea (Matthew 14:22-33).  

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Apart from the disasters that happen in our world, in our own journey of faith we may encounter trials, difficulties, pain and suffering. Working as a hospital priest at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, through my visits I encountered some moments in which patients and family members questioned why they or their loved ones were going through such a pain and suffering. In such situations, we can also wonder if God is near. I remember an encounter I had with Monica, a middle-aged patient. Unfortunately, Monica’s condition deteriorated so fast that the medical team gave her a few weeks to live. During my visit, Monica shared her fears about her condition and wondered why she was going through this “terrible situation.” And yet, she also shared her hope that “my God had not abandoned me.” When she requested to celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, she told me that the celebration had brought her calm and peace “in the storms of my life.” 

In fact the sick, the dying and their family members have told me that they see the celebration of the sacraments as their encounter with God in a time of pain and suffering. 

It is very difficult to explain away suffering and pain in any situation. However, the Bible contains many stories that assure us that it is when we are frightened, suffering, in pain and when we feel hopelessness that God truly comes to us. The Bible also teaches us that if one member suffers, all of us suffer together (I Cor. 12:26). Therefore, as believers, we share in the pain and suffering of others, those who are near us and those who are far away from us. This tenet of our faith is the basis of what the Church demonstrates in a time of crises and suffering. 

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In our solidarity with our brothers and sisters, the Church led by Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for all those affected by the disasters and he also prayed for peace in war-torn areas. We also read about stories in The Catholic Register and other newspapers of the different ways in which different communities reached out to those affected by the disasters and by war. 

In a time of crises in our world and in our lives, in a time of pain and suffering, when we come together to care and support each other we can all encounter our God of calmness, comfort and peace. When we share in the pain and suffering of others, we journey together and support each other with our faith, with our hope and with our love. 

A version of this article appeared in the September 27, 2026 issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "Meeting challenges together with hope".