Men's Rosary

This is the year of hope.  But what exactly is hope?  We are definitely dealing with two types, temporal and spiritual.  I think hope in the temporal sense may be very utilitarian, keeping us in pace with the rest of the world.  But what is the real point in that?

Spiritual hope is what this year is about.  Hope is the theological virtue in which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life for complete happiness.  Hope, as a virtue, is sure and confident expectation.  We know what God has in store for us, and we cling to this patiently. “For in this hope we were saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24-25)  This can be a hurdle for some.  It can be the cause of giving up hope.  We are too used to the temporal hope.  We see the successful people, the fine homes and cars, the independence that comes with wealth, happy families.  We hope to have that which we see.  But that is not sincere hope.

Spiritual hope is in that which we do not see but know is promised to us.  This hope connects God’s will to our very own.  The Hebrew word for hope is Tikvah, which also means cord.  What a beautiful word for hope.  Our idea of hope in our western culture is more abstract but this Hebrew word shows it not to be abstract but actually gives a visual image of something to be grasped.  Something real enough to cling to.  Something that is not out of our reach but presented to us to grab on to.  It is our spiritual lifeline.  “but they who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  (Isaiah 40:31)

This is the time of year for resolutions.  People are “hoping” for and “wishing” others a prosperous year and good health.  Where is God in all of that?  Where do we want our hope to be?  I am not saying that resolutions and well wishes are bad.  I would warn that the secular world can and will take our eye off of the matters of the soul.  So let our resolutions be of ways to grow closer to Christ, to learn more about scripture, to deepen our prayer life.  Let our hope grow and let us bring others to grow in hope and love of God.  This is where we will find all we need to navigate this life and see Jesus in the world to come.  “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8)

“Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul.  Cast your care upon God, for you are His and He will not forget you.  Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.”   (St. John of The Cross )