For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength; constant has been my hope in you (Psalm 71: 5-6).
We are in a Holy Year inaugurated by Pope Francis and called to be “Pilgrims of Hope.” Hope is the theological virtue through which God transforms our fears into desire for the eternal kingdom of heaven to be fulfilled here on earth. In hope we place our trust in Christ’s promises, relying not on our own strength, but on the power of the Holy Spirit (Catechism CC #1817).
"We are in a Holy Year inaugurated by Pope Francis and called to be “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Called into pilgrimage, we should reflect on the basic human structure of hope. We are born with an innate confidence that, whatever the difficulty, things can work out. We can somehow handle and manage reality and find solutions and ways out of problems. The details of the solution are perhaps yet to be discovered.
As children of God, this natural inclination can be defined as the gift of hope. Hope is “what’s possible.” It is engendered by what we desire or dream for. Imagination is the engine of hope, the most human of virtues. Dream what you desire, be attentive to details, and build the bridges to your goal.
"Hope is “what’s possible.”
We quickly learn that “what’s possible” doesn’t always come easily. Taking on a project requires planning, patience and collaboration. Into this comes the possibility, then the reality of obstacles. Now comes the real work of hope. It requires us to acknowledge, in real terms, the difficulties and fears we face. Then to decide to move forward. How we discern this is important.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’; aim at earth and you will get neither.” In other words, dream high.
"Now comes the real work of hope. It requires us to acknowledge, in real terms, the difficulties and fears we face. Then to decide to move forward."
The world fails to achieve its goals when it does not acknowledge its creator. This brings us to Pope Francis’ call to be Pilgrims of Hope. We are to bring forth the one most important detail of a Dream Incarnate which can change the world around us: God sent his Son to suffer, die and redeem us. Christ is our Hope.
The Church has been prepared for this year of pilgrimage. We are neither behind the times nor abandoned in any way by the Spirit. We are resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him. We shall grow in discipleship, relying on the Holy Spirit, reaching out to the poor, and bringing forth the Kingdom of God in renewed Hope.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know the hope of his call…. (Eph. 1:18)
+Most Reverend Stephen J. Berg
Bishop of Pueblo
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