Our greatest need today is the certainty of God, the profound conviction that he does rule, that his righteousness and justice and love are imperishable.

And human nature is such that great generosity often fuels greed, especially when unchecked by viable law and social expectations.

This week the editors discuss Providence’s Advent series on hope.

Christians should not allow themselves to be swept along on the tides of popular resentment and feeling, but should plant their feet firmly on the rock of fact and of Christian love. Only thus will the truth be discerned amidst the babels of conflicting opinions.

“We have,” said an exuberant campaign orator in the recent campaign, “the moral leadership of the world. The whole world trusts in our devotion to freedom and expects us to save mankind from totalitarianism.” That is how we see ourselves, at least in our more complacent moods. The world does not see us as we see ourselves.

Joseph Loconte talked about how C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s experiences in the First World War affected their lives and future writing.

Considering our blessed lives as a people, in spite of all, we cannot give up on hope. Jefferson spoke for each one of us: “I steer my bark with hope in the head, leaving fear far astern.”

We are in a battle with despair these days. One cannot but regret interpretations which weigh the struggle on the side of defeat, especially when one’s own judgment is that such interpretations leave out great areas of fact which give one the right to cherish hope.

The Tree of Liberty, like every other tree, is judged by its fruits. The fruits of the tree are the citizens of the Republic, and the moral health of the Republic is known by the character of its citizens.