A reflection for Friday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time.
The reading from Nahum is strong. It speaks about violence, lies, destruction, and the judgment of a city that caused suffering to many people. But in the middle of this difficult message, there is also hope. A messenger comes announcing peace.
This is important for us because sometimes evil can look very powerful. We see injustice, cruelty, corruption, war, and families suffering because of decisions they did not make. We may ask, “Where is God? Does He see what is happening?”
Nahum reminds us that God does see.
He sees the suffering of the innocent. He sees those who have been forgotten, abused, displaced, or treated without dignity. He also sees the evil that people try to hide. Nothing is invisible to Him.
This does not mean that justice always comes quickly. Sometimes people wait many years for peace. Some wounds remain for a long time. Families may carry pain from one generation to another. But our faith tells us that evil will not have the final word.
God’s justice is not the same as our desire for revenge. Revenge wants another person to suffer. God’s justice wants to end evil, defend the innocent, and restore what has been broken. He does not ask us to carry hatred in our hearts. He asks us to trust that He knows the truth better than we do.
In Mexican Catholic families, we often see faith carried quietly during hard times. A candle is lit before an image of Our Lady. A mother prays the Rosary for her children. A family asks God for protection when the future is uncertain. These small acts do not erase the suffering, but they keep hope alive.
There is something powerful in continuing to pray when the world feels dark. Prayer says, “I still believe God is present. I still believe peace is possible. I still believe that suffering is not the end.”
The peace God gives is not always immediate, and it is not always easy. Sometimes peace begins inside the heart before circumstances change. It begins when we refuse to let fear, bitterness, or anger control us. It begins when we choose to remain faithful and place justice in God’s hands.
Nahum’s message is not only about the fall of an evil city. It is also about the faithfulness of God. He does not abandon His people forever. He restores. He heals. He brings peace after destruction.
This is the hope we need when we are tired of bad news, worried for our families, or discouraged by injustice. We may not know when peace will come, but we know who God is.
He is not indifferent. He is not absent. He is faithful.
Lord, when evil seems stronger than goodness, help us not to lose hope. Protect those who suffer, bring justice to the oppressed, and heal what has been damaged. Teach us to trust You without filling our hearts with hatred. May Your peace come to our families, our communities, and our world. Amen.
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