Hoping against Hope

“Hope opens new horizons, making us capable of dreaming what is not even imaginable.”   -Pope Francis

Were you amazed when the Berlin Wall came down? Me too. It was beyond my wildest dreams. No war, no fighting…not a shot fired. People just came and started to knock that wall down, and the soldiers guarding it did nothing to stop them. I think this is what Pope Frances means.

Hoping when that little inner voice says we are crazy is not easy. Poor Abraham waited and waited. Still, no child as God promised. But in due time that child came. Recently our liturgy reminded us, “Write down the vision clearly...for the vision still has its time…it presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.” (Habakkuk 2:2-4) Our difficulty is like Abraham’s. When, O Lord? Yet the timing will be perfect. God is faithful, and so we wait. We live in hope.

The Christophers describe what hope really looks like: “Hope looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst. Hope opens doors where despair closes them. Hope discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot.”

A final word on hope from the delightful poet, Charles Peguy:

I am, God says, Master of three virtues.

Faith is a faithful spouse.

Charity is a mother burning with devotion.

But hope is a very small girl.

I am, God says, Master of three virtues.

Charity is she who extends herself over the centuries.

But my little hope is the one who each morning

Says Good Day to us.

And so we keep company with one another, and in hope wish one another Good day…