If there is one virtue that I perceive to be lacking today it is the virtue of Hope. That sad aspect of that is the reality that hope relieves so many of our fears. Hope causes us to to be humble. Hope causes us to ask for help. Hope causes us to fear God more than men, realizing that there is nothing in humanity that can satisfy us more than God.
Hope means that in the end we win, so we don't get bogged down in the seeming defeat that is apparent in little battles. Hope causes me to love those around me because I desire their own sanctification. Hope causes me to see no one as a "lost cause." Hope means that even when things don't look so great for your family, your community, your parish, you understand that it is the Holy Spirit's church.
There are so many debates today about the state of the family. The state of the youth. The state of the community. The state of the state. The state of the union. The state of the Church.
Do we really know or are we prognosticators on a bobsled in a whiteout snow storm where we cannot see the track? The early Church Fathers and even most of the world up to about 30 years ago had the benefit of realizing that they had no idea what was going on in another part of the world. They realized that for them to make statements about the "state of things" as to where their place was in history was naive at best.
We are not so lucky.
Between the internet, Twitter, emails, and instant news, we seem to know exactly where we are going to be in 50 years and how the world will look back on us. Most of the time, when someone is making that type of prediction, there is a real lack of hope. They tend to concentrate on the bad.
Global Warming is going to wipe out billions.
Our natural resources will be completely used up in a generation.
Our population is declining too rapidly to sustain itself.
The Church is shrinking at an astronomic rate and becoming irrelevant.
The youth today have no sense of hard work. They have never sacrificed.
We don't have enough money to support the elderly and by "x" year we are going to be bankrupt.
Inflation will drive most of us to the poor house.
All of these predictions, even if right, are devoid of hope. Climate change, global warming, whatever you want to call it, will continue to be impacted by the scientific development using the gifts God gave us. Natural resources are not the only source of energy. Certain populations are growing. The Church has been small before. The youth have not been given the opportunity to sacrifice yet. Perhaps their sacrifice and hard work will be in caring for the elderly. Maybe inflation will not be as bad as we think. After all, when was the last time the financial markets behaved as "predicted?"
Maybe it is a matter of perspective. Maybe it is a matter of faith. Maybe it is a matter of love. Hope means that we do the best we can with what we've got. In the end we know that we are not saved by this world but saved in the world to come. We know that Christ saves us. Not science, not government, not corporations, not financial systems.
It is the hope of two blind men outside the gates of Jericho that their cries would be heard by the Redeemer and that their sins would be forgiven. That God would heal them of their inner blindness and outer blindness.
It is the hope of those who look at the success and blessings that others receive around them and are happy, rejoicing with others because they realize that the greatest blessing waits for all of us. The greatest gift, the greatest lottery ticket that is not left to chance but guaranteed by Jesus Christ.
Heaven.
Sanctification.
Hope means that we do not rely on our own means but on the Grace that is offered by Jesus Christ. How can you envy the well being of another when you have hope? How can you not hope for the glory of heaven as you constantly bring to mind the presence of Jesus?
God calls us to hope.
Questions for Reflection:
- In what areas of your life do you see yourself as not living in hope? Why do you not have hope?
- How much of a lack of hope is due to our desire to control other aspects of our life, including the future? Do we desire to seek out psychics and other mediums that might give us insight into the spiritual realm because of a lack of hope? How might this desire to control, to know everything about the world around us lead us to despair rather than hope? To envy?
- What is the worst case scenario in your life right now? What happens when hope becomes part of the picture? What changes? Is there still a fear? Why?
- What is your hope for yourself in engaging the Sainthood Challenge? Do you think that your sanctification is your own doing or from the Grace of God? Does your hope allow for the Grace of God to work in your life?
- How have you seen a lack of hope impact the spiritual development of people around you? How about yourself? What can you do to "be" hope for others?
- Make a concerted effort to look into the future with hope today. Whenever anyone starts to talk about "how bad" the future looks, surrender the future to Christ and make a note of your hope. Turn the pessimism into hope. How can Christ change that outlook?
- Share with two people today your hope for the future. Be it salvation, sanctification, or just what God is doing in the world.
- God wants to heal you. Do you hope for that? Make a list of things, areas in your life, that you worry about when it comes to the future. Pray that God will give you hope in these areas every day.
- What is your hope for other people? Share with the people you are most intimately involved with your hope for them.
- Use hope to actively confront your envy. When others are having a good day, or benefit from something, meditate, contemplate, and realize that your hope is in heaven, not in earthly things.
Jesus Prayer:
(Every time you walk through a door) "Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
Anima Christi (Soul of Christ) (to be said in the morning)
Soul of Christ, sanctify me;
Body of Christ, save me;
Blood of Christ, inebriate me;
Water from the side of Christ, wash me;
Passion of Christ, strengthen me;
O my sweet Jesus hear me;
within your wounds hide me;
suffer me never to be separated from you;
from the malignant enemy defend me;
at the hour of my death call me; and bid me come to you;
that with your saints I may praise you forever. Amen.
Act of Hope (to be said at noon)
O my God, relying on your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
