4th Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Wednesday - February Hope

 Back on the first day of August we celebrated the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, the great moral theologian who wrote extensively on the virtues. God made us to be virtuous. And so St. Alphonsus teaches, “It is part of the love of God to acquire and to nurture all the virtues”. And so effort is to be given to obtain the virtues, grow in the virtues, and strengthen the virtues. 

The virtues are like muscles in the body, and athletes will tell you that if you want to strengthen a particular muscle, you have to focus on it intentionally. So, St. Alphonsus encouraged that each month we focus on one particular virtue. 

In January he recommended working on the virtue of faith. In February we move on to the second theological virtue, the virtue of hope. 

Faith, hope, and love, the theological virtues are the foundation of a solid relationship with God and the Christian life. And so you’ll never advance in the Christian life without solid hope.

Simply, the theological virtue of hope means to trust that God will be true to his promises. Trust is very difficult for a lot of people. We speak of trust issues. Instability in the family life and the increase in divorce have wounded a lot of people’s ability to trust. Global instability shakes our sense of security. Changes in the church, constant changes to the liturgy, church leader’s weak moral guidance, and betrayal by church leaders have caused many to lose their trust. 

But hope, hope is vital, because change and chaos are inevitable. And hope helps us to remain rooted in the promises of God which do not change. This is why the symbol for hope is an anchor, hope anchors us to solid ground, the solid ground of the promises of Christ—that believing in him, following him, eating his flesh and drinking his blood, carrying your cross with him, laying down your life for him, leads to eternal life.

Christ is our hope. And when you are solidly anchored to Him and His promises, you will have peace and tremendous strenth "in your struggle against sin" as Hebrews puts it today. When you build your house on the solid rock foundations of his teachings, your house will stand the inevitable storms of life. 

St. Bernard of Clairvaux said: “Place all your hope in the Heart of Jesus; it is a safe asylum; for he who trusts in God is sheltered and protected by His mercy. To this firm hope, join the practice of virtue, and even in this life you will begin to taste the ineffable joys of Paradise.”

Strengthen hope this month by meditating often on Christ’s promises found in the New Testament. Meditate on the goodness of God, the heart of Jesus who would never deceive you, who has conquered sin and death and promises eternal life to those who follow him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.

For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her, care for her, and aid her in her mission.

During this Catholic Schools week, for all young people, for their teachers and catechists and parents who are the first teachers of the faith, and that the truth of the faith may be learned, cherished, and practiced in every Catholic school and Christian home.

For an increase in the virtue of hope, especially for the hopeless and despairing and for hardened sinners.

For the sick and suffering among us, for those who care for them, and for all of our beloved dead, especially X, for whom this mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord