There's some good in this world... and it's worth fighting for.

Samwise Gamgee is probably one of the most well-known and beloved of J.R.R. Tolkien's characters... or any character, for that matter. And sure, he isn't a Catholic saint. He isn't even real. Nevertheless, his words are crucial in our day and age, and in our journey with Christ.

Let's be honest. It's easy to get discouraged. With the way world is today, it's hard to see the good. It's easy to focus on how much pain and suffering there is, or how hopeless it seems at times. We only have to turn on the news or open a paper to see that the world is falling apart. And think about what happens when we focus on that, think about how easy it would become to give up and stop caring. Just like the great saints... Samwise challenges us to not only see the good in this world, but also to fight for it.

So, where do we see this good? Well, we see it wherever God is. And where is He? Sometimes, it's hard to know. I remember one time I was at a Mass where the Tabernacle was in another room. And I was praying, "Lord, I just don't know where you are." About ten minutes later, during the gifts, my husband tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, "I don't know why, but I feel like Jesus wants me to tell you that He's here, in the people." I was completely stunned. I had not said a word to my husband, and God had spoken to his heart because He couldn't get through to mine.

And so, I tell you the same thing. The good is where God is--and God is everywhere, in people. His people. The good is in the coworker who listens, the classmate who helps you with your homework, the stranger who smiles at you and says hello, the person who comes up and asks if they can pet your dog. It is found in the volunteers who are helping to make Christmas happen for the unfortunate, the actors who are raising money for charity, the priest who stays late to hear your confession, the neighbor who brings you Christmas cookies. There is good in everyone, in everything. And yes, including you. Because this is His world, and He made it to be good. 

This Advent, I'm challening you to turn off the news. Give it up until Christmas. And instead, go and find the good, rekindle your hope and faith in humanity. Stop looking at how the world is falling apart. Instead, open your eyes to what God wants to tell you, just like He told me: that Jesus is there, in everyone you meet. Whenever you or anyone else is selfless, kind, compassionate, merciful, loving or encouraging, you're putting the good back in this world. Don't you see? Just like Frodo took the ring to Mordor, we can all carry a little piece of the burden for other people. We may not be able to change the entire world, but we can change our little corner of it. We have more power to do good than we think. But we have to believe it, and we have to be willing to let Jesus guide us. We can't be blinded like I was. We need to see Jesus in everyone, including ourselves, and never ever lose sight of Christ's presence in our midst. 

Don't you see? Jesus is the good in this world. He's the good in people. He's in all of us. And that's worth fighting for. We're worth fighting for. He's worth fighting for. So don't give up. In the world you will find trouble. But take courage. Jesus has conquered the world.