Are we living in a time of despair or of presumption?

I’ve been pondering this question off and on, and I’ve concluded that I’m in good company. The soon-to-be Blessed Fulton J. Sheen and G.K. Chesterton also had something to say about presumption and despair.

Chesterton said:

“The heresies that have attacked human happiness in my time, have all been variations either of presumption or of despair; which, in the controversies of modern culture, are called optimism and pessimism.”

“The History of a Half-Truth,” Where All Roads Lead

Sheen said:

“The Western post-Christian civilization has picked up the Christ without His Cross”

(Life of Christ)

Pride

Both are subtle forms of pride because both reject God by leaving Him out of the equation.

Presumption assumes attaining heaven without repentance (see Mt 22: 1-14), and despair considers only human innovation.

We see this a lot with the widely-propagated philosophies of Humanism and Transhumanism in both politics and academia.

But what does despair and presumption look like for each one of us?

Despair says, “What can I do?”

Presumption says, “What can’t I do?”

The two extremes

In every generation we switch between these two extremes and develop philosophies or religions that bear the mark of either error that lead to grave sins against humanity.

Despair says we can’t save ourselves. Presumption says we can save ourselves–both are not true and, if adopted by those in power, both sacrifice the lives of many to achieve their ends.

The antidote

So what’s the solution for these two extremes?

The antidote for both is the theological virtue of hope, which only exists in Christianity.

Supernatural hope says, “What can’t God do?”

It was expressed most plainly by Peter in Matthew’s Gospel when he cried out, “Lord, save me!” as he was drowning in the stormy Sea of Galilea (Matt 14: 22-31).

Or when God instructed the prophet Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones in the valley, bringing an entire army of dead people back to life! (See Ezek 37: 1-14.)

Despair is the cry of the Roman soldiers at the foot of the Cross: “He could not save Himself!” (Mt 27:42)

Presumption is the bad thief’s demand to “save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39)

Supernatural hope says He would not save Himself. (Mt 26: 53-54)

Mother Angelica (1923-2016) expressed Christian hope in this way:

“A Christian has a sense of his Lord’s Presence, though he does not often feel it. Though his soul is often sunk in doubt, it is never clouded by those doubts, for he accepts his limitation with quiet humility.”

A Christian asks God not to allow him to fall into the shadowy pits of despair or wander into the false peace of presumption. Both are a lie from the devil himself and lead us off a cliff straight to hell.

Why?

Despair is attempting to carry our crosses without Christ,

and presumption–as the soon-to-be-Blessed Fulton Sheen pointed out–is attempting to have Christ without the Cross.

Both are impossible and attack human flourishing.

LOTR

To use an analogy, in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic novels, The Lord of the Rings, Frodo was unable to complete his designated task of destroying the Ring of Power without Sam.

In this case we can interpret Frodo as a symbol for a Christian and Sam as a symbol for supernatural grace.

Like Frodo, we cannot complete our appointed mission(s) from God on our own strength.

It is only through accepting God’s supernatural grace that we can have hope.

False Christianity

It is only by seeing this reality that we can discern false Christianity from authentic Christianity, and why other religions fall short.

False Christianity encourages presumption through mediocrity and the denial of Divine Revelation (Truth).

Other religions lead to despair because without the mercy of Christ, there truly is no hope.

Typology

Despair is personified in Judas, who rejected Christ’s divinity. This typology is seen most strongly in mankind before Christ’s coming into the world.

Presumption is personified in the Pharisees. This typology is seen most strongly in the people of today, 2,000 years after Christ came into the world.

Authentic hope is personified in Peter, who represents the true followers of Christ (most notably, His saints), who persevere in love despite assailments by their sins and weaknesses, persecution, and doubt.

It is only when we exercise the theological virtue of Christian hope that we can see Christ’s outstretched hand and take His saving grasp, even unto the bitter end.

And this takes prayer, courage, and our continual response to His unconditional love.

So whether we feel as if we are “dry bones” in the valley, or drowning in the waves of an open sea, we cry out to God all the time and everywhere because we know that without Christ, we can do nothing.

And with Christ on the Way of the Cross, there is nothing we can’t do.

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

Psalm 16: 1-2