Evangelization Outreach / Jenny Bryans

Like a child, begin each day filled with joy and hope

When our daughter was 2, she would wake up early in the morning, before the sunrise and jump out of bed and run into our bedroom and declare in a sweet confident voice, “It’s a ‘bootiful’ day!”

What a wonderful way to wake up!

She remembered other days being beautiful, and she was ready to rejoice in this new day even though the sun hadn’t even come up yet and her parents were still in bed. She not only woke us up, but reminded us of the hope in the gift of a new day!

God calls us to be hopeful for one another: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom 15:13).

Hope joins our past and our future. Hope springs us forward if we let it, as it did for my daughter each morning.”

In Isaiah, we read, “Even to your old age I am he, even when your hair is gray, I will carry you; I have done this, and I will lift you up, I will carry you to safety” (Is 46:4).

It can be difficult to find hope in our present world and even in our own lives at times. Our world can feel “hopeless,” especially when we are bombarded with news of sad and desperate events each day.

As disciples of Christ, we have hope—hope of eternal life. God also gives us hope that each day will bring new life and wonderful new possibilities. It is in our memories of our faithful God—and how much he loves us—that remind us that the goodness of God prevails.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines hope beautifully: “Hope 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” (#1817).

God is our hope in those moments of despair. “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer” (Rom 12:12). It may be difficult to “rejoice” during difficult moments, but God calls us to go treasure hunting.

Hope is the treasure found in the darkness, in despair, in desperately sad, lonely places. We are called to prayer, and God will help us to find and share that treasure of hope with others.

The prophet Jeremiah tell us, “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the Lord—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer 29:11-13).

Mary is our model for seeking God as our hope. Mary’s Magnificat is a prayer of hope. (Lk 1:46-55)

Pope Francis, in 2017, said, “Mother of hope, she teaches us that all the darkness of the world cannot extinguish the light of the candle of hope when it is fueled by faith and trust in God, who never disappoints. We pray, ‘Hail Holy Queen, mother of mercy, our hope, our sweetness and our life.’ ”

God shows us hope in all he has created— the sunrise, the birds singing, a newborn baby, a wedding celebration. God wants us to seek him always, especially in dark times.

Hope is all around. Look for it, feel it, hear it and share it. Our daughter is now 24 and getting married this month. I will always remember that sweet 2-year-old filled with the joy and hope of a new day. Again hope springs us forward as we will celebrate God’s goodness and love at their wedding Mass. It will be another beautiful day!
 

(Jenny Bryans is the archdiocese’s Disabilities Ministries Coordinator. She can be reached at 317-236-1448 or jbryans@archindy.org.) †