OUR LADY OF LOURDES SEMINARY

Crossing the Threshold of Hope

BY: S. Ioannes Paulus P.P. II

A REFLECTION PAPER SUBMITTED TO

BR. EDGAR S. MARTINEZ, ofmcap

BY

Marlone de Sibugay

SAN SEBASTIAN, LIPA CITY

20 DECEMBER 2017
INTRODUCTION

Above was the hand written message of the Saint, Pope John Paul II in the book “Crossing
the Threshold of Hope.” In line with this, I would like to start my report and reflection with these
words and exhortation of the Holy Pontiff. Be not afraid! These words echoed through Saint John
Paul II’s papacy, and they continue to echo in this writing. This is also his first message to all the
audience in Vatican Square on the occasion of his election as the Bishop of Rome, in his
conclave.

Today in the modern times where hatred, consummerism, materialism, divisions, pride and
selfishness is widespread practice by many throughout the world, and even within the Church, the
concern whether the relevance of the Church and its Teachings are thought to be decreasing
causes apprehensions and fear among the faithful and practicing Catholics. Yet, to contradict
this, the message of the Holy Pope John Paul II is clear and strong – “be not afraid!” that ereases
all apprehensions and questions concerning faith and hope to the Church.

Be not afraid, for it is the Lord that we are following – there is nothing to fear; Be not afraid,
the Holy Spirit is within us – He protects and guides us always. These are some appeals and
encouragements the Pontiff gives to all the people of God.
The book provides not only answers on the questions ask to the Pope about a certain issues
concerning the Papacy and its Stewardship but also provides points for reflections and bullets of
Philosophical, Theological and simple answers about how a faithful – clergy, religious, lay and
those outside the faith, should act according to the calling and plan of the Omnipotent, Almigthy,
All Powerful and Ever-living God through Jesus Christ who was and who is the Way, the Truth and
the Life, with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete who is always with us to guide and enlighten us, and who
lives and reign with the Father and the Son.
Be not afraid, even with all of this controversies, disagreements, arguments, debates and
unfaithfulness.

Be not afraid, even with all of this trials, challenges, struggles, crisis and uncertainties I am
feeling – I am under the shadow of the wings of God. I shall not fear! And together with Mary, the
Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and my Mother, could aclaim and shout ot the world – that “my
heart rejoices in God my Savoir, for He has look down with favor on His lowly servant.”

Be not Afraid!
 A REVIEW ABOUT THE BOOK

In October of 1993, on the fifteenth year of the Papacy of Saint Pope John Paul II, the Holy
Father accepted Italian Radio and Television's proposal for a televised interview that would be
transmitted by the major networks around the world in line with former occasion. It was never
before had a successor to Peter participated in a live televised interview with a journalist whose
questions were entirely of his own making, so this would be first in the entire history of the Papacy,
especially in this times of modernization.

The interview were been scheduled. However, the Pope did not take into consideration
how relentless his schedule would be in September, which was the deadline for filming, and
allowed enough time for the director and technicians to work on the material before the
broadcast. In the end, the Pope's many obligations prevented his participation and the project fell
through at the last moment.

The contents presented in Crossing the Threshold of Hope were originally intended to be
broadcast as a live television interview with Vittorio Messori, an Italian journalist and writer. When
John Paul II had to cancel the interview at the last minute, he still wanted to answer Messori’s
questions and told him: "Even if there wasn't a way to respond to you in person, I kept your
questions on my desk. They interested me. I didn't think it would be wise to let them go to waste.
So I thought about them and, after some time, during the brief moments when I was free from
obligations, I responded to them in writing. You have asked me questions, therefore you have a
right to responses....I am working on them. I will let you have them. Then do with them what you
think is appropriate."

At the end of April 1994, Messori received a package from the Vatican: The Pope had
answered every question. Saint Pope John Paul II expressed his confidence in Messori by
permitting him to do whatever he saw fit with the contents of the folder. He only wrote “Crossing
the Threshold of Hope” on the inside front cover of the folder as a suggestion for a possible title. As
Messori began compiling the questions, he saw that additional questions as follow-up would be
helpful. Additional questions were composed and sent. When the follow-up questions returned
from the Vatican, Messori found that the Pope had again answered every question.

The text or questions and answers, which had been published in Italy and simultaneously in
all the major languages of the world, was examined and approved by the Holy Pope himself.

The text of the book is presented exactly as written by Saint John Paul II. Messori doesn’t
ask private questions, but the questions he does ask allow the reader to see the personal life of the
Pope, for example, whether the Pope ever doubts his relationship with God, especially given the
importance of his role in the Catholic Church. The Pope’s answer, of course “Be not afraid!” (Luke
1:30).
 Messori continues to ask questions throughout the book that people throughout the world
have wondered: “How do you pray?” “Does God really exist?” “Is there really hope in the young?”
“Does eternal life exist?” “What does it mean to be saved?” The Pope does not answer questions
that only pertain to Catholicism. Messori asks questions about Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism
and monotheistic religions in general. Saint Pope John Paul II’s answers to these questions reflect
his great love for all people and his knowledge of these religions. He speaks several times of
individuals he has met who belong to these religions, sometimes calling them by name. He also
says passionately that “the Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these
religions.” He quotes the Second Vatican Council as mentioning a "common soteriological root
present in all religions" though he seems to contradict that by stating that "the Buddhist tradition
and the methods deriving from it have an almost exclusively negative soteriology," And
continuing "doctrines of salvation in Buddhism and Christianity are opposed." This has been judged
by Buddhists as a misunderstanding of Buddhism.

Messori’s questions in the latter portion of the book refer to various tenets of
the Catholic faith, including whether the Catholic Church really has the fullness of truth, and
whether or not heaven exist. Many people ask these questions, and the Pope’s answers to these
questions can be found here. Some readers may find Messori frustrating at times, as his writing can
be gushing and formal. He says things like, “Pardon me, Your Holiness, but my role (which gives me
great honor but also a certain responsibility) is also that of a respectful “provocateur” with regard
to questions...”

Topics of the book include: “The Pope: A Scandal and a Mystery,” “How does the Pope
Pray?” “Does God Really Exist?” “Proof: Is it Still Valid?” “If God Exists, Why is He Hiding?” “Is Jesus
the Son of God?” “Why Is There So Much Evil in the World?” “What Does To Save Mean?” “Why So
Many Religions?” “Buddha?” “Muhammad?” “Judaism?” “What Is the New Evangelization?” “Is
There Really Hope in the Young?” “Was God at Work in the Fall of Communism?” “Is Only Rome
Right?” “In Search of Lost Unity,” “A Qualitative Renewal,” “The Reaction of the World,” “Does
Eternal Life Exist?” “Human Rights,” “The Mother of God,” and “Be Not Afraid.”

The Pope answers questions directly, and he also provides a context and history as
background. He reflects Descartes’ philosophy of “I think, therefore I am,” although the Pope
writes to a world-wide audience, he also speaks specifically of the Catholic faith, including
references not only to the Sacred Scriptures, but also many saints: Augustine’s City of God, John of
the Cross and his Ascent of Mount Carmel, Thomas Aquinas and the Summa Theologica, and
many more.

Crossing the Threshold of Hope begins and ends with reference to the admonition given by
the Pope on October 22, 1978, the day of his installation. "Be not afraid." These words are found in
sacred scripture, addressed to Mary by the angel, and by Christ to His disciples. In that sense they
are a source of consolation, a sort of divine promise that God will always look after the needs of
His faithful people. A good book that leads you to understand the position of the Catholic Church
as it stands today on modern social issues, and why these things are not opinion-based, but reflect
a consistency with the faith from centuries before.

Saint John Paul II puts the transition of old to new into perspective and explains the
foundation of why the Church preaches, teaches, and believes that modernity has a great
potential but also a great battle ahead. Marxist revolutions were only the beginning of a much
larger trend of man to reject God entirely in every aspect of life, but this is symptomatic of a larger
fear of what might happen if mankind truly accepted God and accepted his forgiveness of our
wretched sinfulness.

Finally, the new evangelization is a concept laid out in this book which brings hope, that
there is a way to bring mankind back to a wholeness of self, to human rights, to respect and
dignity of the human life, to sacrifices for the sake of others, because in truth, the new
evangelization is not much different from the old evangelization, to be in the world but not of the
world, to profess our faith in word and deed, and again, to "be not afraid" and believe and have
faith in the One True God.

REFLECTION ON THE BOOK

When I was first ask to find a book as material for my reflection paper, as a partial
requirement of the Postulant Director, the “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” by His Holiness Saint
Pope John Paul II was my best choice. Perhaps, it is because I was amazed by how deep the
Wisdom of the Author is, plus his Philosophical, Theological and Integral views on: Faith, Religion,
Human Race and the Creation. Likewise, of course, he was newly canonized Saint. I want to learn
and know him more, including his views and writings.

So I came to read this book, and I loved it. I read so much of his philosophy now that I'm
sure I didn't appreciate 5 to 10 years ago — both because of my age and spiritual immaturity then
and also because of how little I knew about and understood the profound depths of his wisdom
and holiness. Even now, I wonder how much of it I begin to grasp, just a little.

BE NOT AFRAID! This phrase was probably my best line from him and from the book. In one
of my class with Fr. Eugine on Sacred Scriptures, when we were talking about Religion, we came to
talk about this same phrase of the Pope. I believe this brings meaning into my vocation.
 Upon reading the book it is very noticeable that the Holy Pope wants that his flock will cling
on the Faith and Love set by Jesus to follow; to be not afraid in these modern times of divisions and
questions and have faith, trust and confidence to God.

And so my reflection will be based and grounded on this Words from the Sacred Scripture
and from the words of a man whose holiness I saw, Saint John Paul II.

After reading the book, I came into these three “BE NOT AFRAID” points as my reflection: First is
that, in all responsibility I had; BE NOT AFRAID, some tasks and responsibilities are great sometimes
small, sometimes crucial sometimes mediocre, sometimes important sometimes little and
sometimes I ask, can I complete or finish this task?, - and yet, I should do and accomplish the
given task and responsibility with diligence, gratefulness, confidence and trust in the spirit of
service and brotherhood and offer it to the Lord. Be constant and persistent in doing my job and
making it done.

Trusting the Lord’s guidance and providence and be not frightened to commit mistakes
and failures. In everything that I do, every work and responsibility that I have, every command
that is given to me that is need to be done and every skill and talent that I have, I must not be
afraid or scared or ashamed to share and use it, especially for the greater Glory of God. Perhaps
this inspiration to work not being afraid is nourished and is and will be the fruits of my prayers.
Therefore, to remove my fears and doubts in any of my responsibilities, I must really cultivate and
improve my prayer life.

Following this thought, I will ask – so how should I pray, and how should I improve it? Saint
John Paul II provides concrete and solid encouragement on how and why should I pray; “Your
question concerns prayer... Perhaps it is worth starting with Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans. The
apostle comes to the heart of the matter when he writes: "The Spirit too comes to the aid of our
weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with
inexpressible groaning" (cf. Rom 8:26). What is prayer? It is commonly held to be a conversation.
In a conversation there are always an "I" and a "thou" or "you." In this case the "Thou" is with a
capital T. If at first the "I" seems to be the most important element in prayer, prayer teaches that
the situation is actually different. The "Thou" is more important, because our prayer begins with
God. In his Letter to the Romans, Saint Paul teaches precisely this. According to the apostle, prayer
reflects all created reality; it is in a certain sense a cosmic function.

Man is the priest of all creation; he speaks in its name, but only insofar as he is guided by
the Spirit. In order to understand profoundly the meaning of prayer, one should meditate for a long
time on the following passage from the Letter to the Romans: "For creation awaits with eager
expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of
its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set
free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know
that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who
have the first fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the
redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved" (Rom 8:19-24). And here again we come
across the apostle's words: "The Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know
how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings" (cf. Rom
8:26).
 In prayer, then, the true protagonist is God. The protagonist is Christ, who constantly frees
creation from slavery to corruption and leads it toward liberty, for the glory of the children of God.
The protagonist is the Holy Spirit, who "comes to the aid of our weakness." We begin to pray,
believing that it is our own initiative that compels us to do so. Instead, we learn that it is always
God's initiative within us, just as Saint Paul has written. This initiative restores in us our true humanity;
it restores in us our unique dignity. Yes, we are brought into the higher dignity of the children of
God, the children of God who are the hope of all creation. (St. Pope John Paul II)

Sometimes ago, I questioned and said to myself that I need a knock and guidance
because I find hard time for myself in prayer, I even thought that I am not for this life because
praying became for me a murmuring of words that I don’t even understand and know what it
means. I lost my track in prayer and likewise found the road for my downfall. But at this point in my
life, I am happy and blissful to say that, at last, praying and silence is now something that I enjoy
and anticipate to do. Although I still have dull-moments and sometimes have difficulties in praying,
at least now I can fix my gaze to His face and could listen to Him in silence, alone; something that I
know as a Grace from God. Nevertheless, it is an affirmation to me that, indeed, I am favored by
the Lord in spite of my sinfulness and unworthiness. Therefore I should and need not to worry and
be afraid – for God is the one who plan my life and He wanted me in such responsibility.

Second, there is so much evil in the world; BE NOT AFRAID. One thing that the Pope also
answer in the book is the question concerning and about evil and how powerful he is today,
especially in the modern society. Everything now is instant and quick, people are always on hurry.
We have been dictated by Time, and all our actions and undertakings, activities and events
where plainly worldly. We have lost the “sense of sins.” Everything becomes ordinary and usual,
even with the presence of immorality, all is well. This contributes and increases the power of evil
amongst us that creates: violence, misunderstandings, wars, greed and, for a personal level, illness
and diseases. And so the question – why there is evil? And by just the thought of it gives us frights
and terrors.

Stat crux dum volvitur orbis (The Cross remains constant while the world turns) the Saint
Pope John Paul II said. It is a powerful exhortation for me. Without a doubt, the Earth or the World I
live in have passed, undergone, overcome, suffered, endured, experienced and had a quite
number of changes, shifting, separations and evolution already. But then again, my faith – which is
deeply rooted to the very creation of this world – in which summit is the cross of Christ, and the
salvation and redemption it represents, remain perpetual and real. Regardless of all evils this world
had, the power of the cross thwarts all darkness that obscure the truth of what I am really made
for; to be in the light, with Christ in one with the Lord in the Heaven.

The Cross is more powerful than all evil. God gave me a tool, equipment and an instrument
to overcome evil – gaze on the cross, follow the road set up by Christ. For it is still depend on me,
as Saint Pope John Paul II acclaims in the book: “God created man as rational and free, thereby
placing Himself under man's judgment, not only of man's questions and doubts but of his actual
judgment of God.”

Therefore, God allows me to see evil and felt so that I may and could discern which side I
must take, ensuring that it must and always be His, notwithstanding all wickedness and
temptations I must endure and overcome. One thing I am sure of is that, of all this evil in the world
– I have the presence of God within me, the Holy Spirit that protects, guides, inspires, motivates,
animate and strengthen me always to deny and provoke evil – no need to be afraid!

Finally ,