Living Hope.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…”
1 Peter 1:3-4

I have grappled long and hard with hope. What is it, really? How do I hope? Why do I even need to hope? Last year felt hopeless and difficult. I felt like my prayers were useless. My sentiment was generally “Why do I even pray if I’m not going to get what I so deeply desire?” In my heart, I knew that hope shouldn’t be tied to what I received in prayer, but it very much was. And I didn’t understand how to actually hope. 

At the end of December last year, I started praying about what my word of the year for 2020 would be. If you’ve never had a word of the year, it’s kind of like a spiritual theme for the year. It’s usually a word God will lay upon your heart and he will work in and through it in the coming year. The word that kept springing to my mind was “hope.”

I’ll be honest, I felt mildly annoyed because I didn’t feel full of hope. I didn’t want to focus on hope in my spiritual life. I didn’t want to trust that God’s plans were better than my plans. His plans felt rather empty at that point. And it even sounds silly, but I was afraid of what it might mean to have to truly learn to hope. But alas, it was imprinted on my heart and I knew the Holy Spirit had chosen this word for my year.

What is hope?

But again, hope feels elusive. What does it mean? According to the catechism, “it is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1817).  Lately, however, God has been showing me what true hope actually looks like in action. It is a far cry from my selfish temper tantrums and anger that I haven’t received what I very clearly expressed to God that I so deeply desire. Because after all, what I want is really good.

But true hope isn’t about what I want. True hope is about heaven. Hope allows me to trust that good can come from all things. It is ordered toward my eternal happiness in heaven, not my fleeting earthly happiness.  It allows me to stand rooted, one foot on earth, one in heaven, with eyes lifted upwards toward the final goal because Jesus overcame death. His death “gave us a new birth to a living hope… to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” 1 Peter 1:3-4.

Hope in Action

Last May, Isabella, a 16 year old, was diagnosed with DIPG, an inoperable form of brain cancer that no one has yet survived. I knew her mom from a time in bible study together, and I was always deeply touched by her faith and comforting words when I had suffered a miscarriage.

But now, in the midst of this great trial they bear,  what I see in them is a living hope. I see hope in their ability to keep their eyes focused on heaven. I see hope in their ability to say yes, Isabella will be healed. Maybe not on this earth, and if not, she will be healed fully in heaven. I see it in their joy at every small victory and their acknowledgment that every moment together is a gift. I see hope in their living for the heavenly realities, surrendering to the bitter pain that is death, but rejoicing in the heavenly glory.

Their eyes are set on heaven. And while hope doesn’t take away the pain of a suffering that I can’t even begin to fathom, it allows them to keep one foot on earth and the other in heaven. It allows them to rest in the reality that the saints get to blaze like the sun in glory for all eternity before the throne of God our heavenly Father. *Please pray for Isabella and the Auer family during this time, they are grateful for every prayer you are willing to offer.*

Hope is a Gift

Hope in the midst of suffering is a gift. It’s not easy, but it is a game changer. It turns us outward from our selfish desires, placing our eyes upward and outward, thus allowing us to hold tight to the heavenly realities that we were created for. We don’t have to cling to this life, but we can live in the peace and joy that this life is not all there is. When death threatens or our plans are totally messed up or all our old securities fall away, we can cling to the final reality – heaven. The perfect union with God for all eternity, trusting that the events of this life do work for our good.

After all, this life is but a shadow of the next. During dark and difficult times, let us turn our eyes toward heaven, living for that reality where we may live in perfect love for all eternity.

For Prayer

This was the second reading from mass on the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday). Take some time to pray with it. You can find the steps for Lectio Divina below the reading.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:3-9 (NABRE)

Steps for Praying Lectio Divina 

1. Lectio (read): read the passage – identify a word or phrase that sticks out, if you like writing or journaling, write it down
2. Meditatio (meditate): read the passage. Ask God why this word or phrase is sticking out, “chew” on it.  Listen for an answer and reflect on it, write down what you hear
3. Contemplatio (contemplate): read the passage – open your heart to God, ask him to speak to you about what this insight means
4. Oratio (pray): read the passage one final time. Speak to God about this, it’s like having a conversation with a friend, and don’t forget to listen!

Adapted from The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina by the USCCB