It has ben said that Pope St. John Paul II was a “witness to hope”. He often spoke of a “springtime of the Church” In which good would triumph over evil and truth would be victorious over lies. Hope, along with Faith and Love, is a theological virtue. Hope is trusting in God despite disappointment at the abundance of sin in our world. During one of his visits to the United Nations, Pope JP II said that “Hope is not empty optimism….but is the premise of responsible activity that is nurtured in the inner sanctuary of conscience where man is alone with God”. In other words, hope is nurtured in prayer and is expressed in positive action, action that provides a stark contrast to sin with unconditional love of our neighbor. For example, the hope-filled Christian doesn’t just despair at the rise of homelessness. He vows to take some small part in initiatives to alleviate the housing crisis. Other examples – in times of loneliness I can put my hope in hobbies and friendships. In times of a health scare, I can put my trust in God working through doctors and nurses. Do I see God’s providence as guiding the stars as well as the challenges and blessings of my personal life and that of my family? Pope Francis has declared the new year 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope. St. Paul reminds us that hope, like all virtues, is the result of practice and discipline, and “hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:3-5). – – – Fr. Jim
This one was worth repeating!