Dear friend, thanks to this jubilee of hope, we have journeyed together through meditation on the Pope’s message and The Way of the Heart. Let us now recall the path we have traveled so that we may once again reflect on what we have received.
Embrace hope, for it does not disappoint, because God’s love is unbreakable and always opens new paths for you when others close. Hope does not offer immediate solutions, but it strengthens you to move forward with confidence where others grope in the dark. Hope does not deny pain; it embraces it, integrating it into our experience. How have you experienced hope in your own life? What have you learned? This hope is an anchor for our soul, solid and firm, providing us with stability in the storms of life.
Hope is nourished in our relationships with others, transforming our lives. By sharing, we look to the future with joy, cultivating a “culture of encounter.” In a world that prioritizes the immediate, patience that knows how to wait becomes a treasure, because it allows us to take the time to connect with others, in a joyful circulation of giving and receiving. How have you experienced your close relationships with family, at work, and with friends? What connections have you been able to build?
This is how enthusiasm for living in community is enkindled in the heart. However, it is easy to lose the desire to nurture relationships when we seek immediate benefits first. Nevertheless, God offers us the hope of reconciliation and forgiveness, allowing us to rebuild the unity that is our true joy. Reflect in your heart on experiences of feeling forgiven and forgiving others. Is there still pain to heal and forgiveness to offer?
Be a bearer of hope with concrete gestures toward your brothers and sisters. Let God’s love reach you and cultivate your friendship with Him. Have you grown in friendship with the Lord? Have you taken time to listen to Him and know His Heart? You will then see from your own experience that hope is your shining beacon, your firm anchor, and your unshakeable strength, which you will want to share with others.
Bettina Raed
International Vice Director
Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network