The very darkness of the world seems to capture many people when Christ’s story gets to his passion. This most horrific suffering, death by crucifixion, represents the worst part of our humanness. Yet in the moments leading up to his suffering, Jesus is not sitting in fear worrying about himself. He is thinking of his disciples and his desire that they have peace. Fr. Kenneth Grabner writes that this promise of Jesus’ is our hope when we feel overwhelmed by life’s problems. Life offers us many joys, but it has its problematic side too. We might have to do something that seems beyond our strength. Perhaps we’re burdened by the unrealistic expectations of others. Whatever our difficulties, Jesus is with us to help us through them. Our trust in his presence enables us to mitigate our fear and strengthen our hope. I don’t think we can experience this strength fully without spending time with God in silent prayer. In attentive silence, we become aware of God’s guiding presence within us. When we experience his presence and surrender ourselves to it, a sense of hope flows into us that begins to transform our lives. That is God’s loving will for us.