Daily Reflection Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Hope, according to Merriam-Webster, is to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true. These past few weeks have been challenging and it seemed that every group text I sent to my children was sad news. My son, Daniel, said “mom I see a group text and I am afraid to open it.” I was taking away his hope.

In today's first reading Saint Paul nailed it right on the head when he said “We do not hope for what we see. We hope for what is to come, for the glory that awaits.” I don’t know about you but these days all my hope is in the unseen. I hope and pray every day for peace in a world that seems set on war. I hope and pray that those in need find a helping hand. I hope and pray every day for those battling addiction and sickness. I can’t see what is to come but I will storm heaven with prayers for I hope will come. I will remind myself of the good and selfless people in this world. I will be thankful for the ones who run into harm’s way, to bring aid and comfort, in a war zone. I will be thankful for the ones who counsel and care for the sick. Life, in its good and bad moments, is a gift. We are meant to embrace and fully live out that gift. 

In The Daily Examine Saint Ignatius gave us five steps to use in our daily prayer. They are to help us reflect on the day's events and detect God's presence. Saint Ignatius thought that the Examen was a gift that came directly from God. He believed that God wanted him to share it and he made it a requirement that Jesuits practice the Examen twice daily, at noon and at the end of the day. I am not quite as good as the Jesuits with the twice daily, but I do try and end my day with it. Below are the five steps.

1.    Become aware of God’s presence.

2.    Review the day with gratitude.

3.    Pay attention to your emotions.

4.    Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.

5.    Look forward to tomorrow.

For me this means:

1.    Recognizing that Jesus is right there even when I feel my worst.

2.    Being grateful for something each day does change my perspective.

3.    Sharing with Jesus what is causing me sorrow or joy.

4.    Choosing that emotion, whether joy or sorrow, becomes my pray.

5.    I look forward to what tomorrow will bring.

Saint Paul is reminding us that all this present world offers, both good and bad, is nothing compared to the glory that awaits us in heaven. Saint Ignatius helps us focus on God's presence here and now. Going forward I will send more joyful family texts so that when the sad ones arrive, the good will far outweigh the bad. That will be my hope!
 

Where will you find your hope?