The Family Fully Alive

"Hopefulness"

Fr. Pinto Paul is the International Director of the Boston-based Holy Cross Family Ministries. In this role, he oversees the programs and services at centers in 17 countries

Friends,

This month, I would like to invite you to make your families more alive with hope. As we breathed out 2020 and breathed in 2021, we were hoping that this year would be better. But, with the second wave of the pandemic, many of us are feeling a sense of loss and distress.

Some of us may be sick or have someone close to us suffering from Covid-19; some of us may have even lost a family member or a dear friend recently; some of us may be worried about commencement ceremonies or other celebrations.

Many hopes have been shattered or deferred. The hope of a long life, the hope of saying "I am sorry," the hope of saying "I love you," the hope of a last chance to say "Goodbye." We were hoping but, ...

Many of us can relate to one of these experiences. But there is good news!

We have Jesus on our Side

He knows what it is to experience pain and loss. He is our sure hope. He says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled, have faith...". He gives us this hope through grace (2 Thess. 2:16). This hope unites us with the divine; it is based on His pledge to us.

"This hope is the confidence which he creates in our souls as secret evidence that he has taken possession of us." (Thomas Merton).

This hope can help us rise above our pain and loss. It can "fill [us] with all joy and peace . . ., so that [we] may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Heb. 11:13).

This hope opens the way to "eternal comfort and good hope" (2 Thess. 2:16). We should accept this hope and "encourage one another with these words,": as St. Paul told the Christians in Thessalonica. (2 Thess. 2:16).

Helen Keller said, "nothing can be done without hope and confidence."

In spite of the pandemic, many families I know are finding new ways of being hopeful families by connecting with each other, serving each other, and spending more time in prayer, transforming sadness into joyful hope.

Many individuals and families are taking the time to call a neighbor or friend experiencing loss, by dropping off meals for the elderly, celebrating on a Zoom conference, joining the Rosary and Mass on Facebook and YouTube.

By these acts of kindness and charity, they help reawaken hope in the hearts of their neighbors and friends.

As Christians, we are called to live in the glory of Christ's resurrection and to look forward to our own with hope! We are not people of Good Friday only, but, even more, of Resurrection Sunday, a people with hope in abundance to share with others.

Family Activity

Work

Reach out to someone you know who is suffering loss or pain. Be ready to listen with the ear of your heart. And this simple act, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may renew their hope.

One of the great gifts of families with little children is the innocent joy that lifts all spirits and renews hope. They can share hope through in-person or on-line visits to grandparents and elders.

Talk

Next time when you have a family outing to the beach or park try collecting stones to decorate together at home and use that time to talk about how God brought hope at various times in your life and how you can bring hope to others.

Play

1. As you prepare for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord – do a countdown. For each day between today and Ascension Day, write down a passage from Scripture and tell what it encourages us/you to hope for.

2. Keep visual family reminders throughout your home of the times you have placed your hope in the Lord.

Pray

"Lord, our hope and comfort, you canceled out our feeling of hopelessness by your resurrection. Be close to those who are without hope, and comfort those who are going through sadness in their lives. Help my family and me to be sensitive to those who are suffering, to have the courage to reach out to them, and to speak words of comfort and wisdom to them."

Amen.