By Lynne fcJ, first appeared at FCJ Sisters Blog.
We are surrounded by goodness and beauty, by people striving for the good of others, by a million small gestures of kindness and love. Yet if we listen to the news channels we can easily feel somewhat overwhelmed as we hear story after story of suffering, self-seeking leadership, climate crisis… How then can we find hope and not be paralysed? Perhaps it is by recognising the truth of both – there is much that is suffering in our world, and yet still, in the face of it all people still choose goodness, still strive to do what is right, still forgive, console, love.
To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is Hope. Feeling hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naïve and ignore the tragedy humanity is facing. Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow.
Pope Francis, 2017
