Pilgrim of Bold Hope; Homily 1st Friday February 2025

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020725.cfm

Praise God! Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.

This week, I have preached on the theme "Pilgrims of Hope" at every opportunity. On Wednesday at St. Lawrence, the message was “Hope Begins When Jesus Preached”. On Tuesday, at Christ the King - Catholic Campus Ministries the message was “Bold Faith Comes From Bold Hope.”

Today, the focus is on a true “Pilgrim of Hope,” someone who had bold faith that came from a bold hope. This person’s hope may have come when he heard Jesus preach his first message of hope as an infant in his mother's womb. Knowing hope that Pilgrim of Hope leaped for joy. 

Yes, that. Pilgrim of Hope was John the Baptist.

John preached a powerful message of hope: "Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" He was the precursor of Jesus, a true “Pilgrim of Hope,” pointing to the one who would fulfill our greatest hopes and satisfy our deepest longings. 

John is not one you would normally think of when you picture hope. But truthfully, hope is not always picturesque. It is not rainbows, giggles, butterflies, and sugar candies. Hope is experienced in the world and hope is going to be smudged with little dirt. Its has bruises and chipped teeth. Its knuckles will be swollen and skinned, and its hair uncombed. 

Hope is even in the deepest and darkest places like the prison cell of John the Baptist as he was about to be beheaded. Hope lives in those who fight. When it is knocked down, hope gets back up and goes on. True hope is persistent and relentless. That is John the Baptist's hope.

Herod was called out by John concerning Herodias and all the wicked things Herod had done. John accused Herod, saying, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." For this, Herod imprisoned John and eventually had him beheaded.

Even while locked up, John continued to preach. King Herod liked to hear what John had to say, but he was very much perplexed by his words. Herod knew nothing about hope.

John's preaching about repentance, the Spirit and fire, and empowered faith gave hope. He told people about God's power and the hope to come. "I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness." 

John's message was one of bold hope, a hope that liberates and frees people. John’s hope had dirt smeared on its face, swollen and bloody knuckles, and more than one loose tooth. His message was echoed off iron bars, resounding against the condemnation of the world.

This is the hope needed when we face the evils of this world, when dealing with trouble, illness, loss, or any kind of trials. St. Augustine said, "Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are."

This is the hope of Christ, and no other hope is needed. The hope that Christ bring is not deterred by the messiness of the world. A “Pilgrim of Hope” does not stop his journey. Hope does not run from the fight. 

It is easy to be a "Pilgrim of Hope" when hope is found in rainbows and butterflies. The world needs "Pilgrims of Hope" who are not afraid to get a little dirty, to endure some knocks and bruises, or maybe a chipped tooth or two. Fighting for hope in this world is not easy.

John the Baptist was a “Pilgrim of Hope.” For “Pilgrims of Hope” this is God's promise through Jesus Christ to the world: "I will never forsake or abandon you."

Hope begins when the message of Jesus Christ is preached; that. message: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?"

Praise God! Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.

A Bold Faith Comes From A Bold Hope - Homily 1st Tuesday February - Campus Ministry Mass

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020425.cfm 

There was once a television show called “Faith and Hope”. Although the show was a silly comedy about the lives of two sisters, it could contained tidbits of wisdom. 

These were thoughts that came from the theme song …“Sisters can’t imagine life without the other.., Sister there is no better way to you.” It was a song about sisters; but the sisters were Faith and Hope. Hope and faith are also 2 sister virtues.

Can you imagine faith without hope or hope without faith? True believers know there is no better way to faith than hope in Jesus. There is no better way to have hope than to have faith in Jesus Christ.

It takes a bold faith to boldly embrace hope. 

This year, 2025, Pope Francis has declared a Holy Year of Hope. He calls us to be "Pilgrims of Hope." In this year of renewal hope and faith intertwine like the complementary nature of the two virtues. 

A complimentary nature that resonates deeply in the heart of believers. St. Paul declares in Romans - “We are justified through faith… and we boast in our hope…”

That is the nature of faith and hope echoed in the hearts of many. But, for some, like students in the midst of the challenges of campus life, might lose sight of hope and ponder their faith. As a part of Catholic Campus ministry, all of us are called to be witnesses to others as an example of bold faith and hope in Jesus.

The Gospel tells us to be bold in our hope and faith and witness to the crowds around us. Jarius, a respected community leader, with faith in Jesus healing and the hope for the healing of his daughter, humbled himself before Jesus. Similarly, a woman who had suffered for years reached out in faith to touch Jesus' garment, hoping to be healed by just touching the hem of his cloak.

Their stories exemplified the bold hope and unwavering faith of two people in the crowd. All who were around them witnessed that bold hope and even bolder faith. To that hope and faith, Jesus responded. 

He said to Jarius and all those who would hear, do not fear only believe. Then He reached out to Jarius' daughter, who was at the point of death, takes her by the hand, and says get up little girl. When Jesus felt the woman's touch he honored her hope and faith. Daughter your faith has made you well.

In this modern world, on this college campus, we are surrounded by great crowds that witness all we do. As a witness for Christ, we are a witness of hope and faith. Set aside all that weighs us down and prevents us from reaching out to Jesus. For when we possess such faith, Jesus responds.

Hope and faith begins with Baptism. Our hope and faith in Jesus Christ is being constantly renewed by the Holy Spirit. It grows through our openness to God’s grace in our lives.

Hope and faith is nurtured through campus ministries. They grow when one attends Mass, goes to confession, prays daily, studies the Bible, and is part of a community of believers. Student can discover that having a hope in the challenges of campus life and college studies deepens and grows a bolder faith.

Bold faith comes from the bold hope. It is hard to imagine one without the other. Dear Jesus, there is no better way to you.

Amen

Hope begins when Jesus Preached - Homily First Wednesday mass - February 2025

https://bible.usccb.org/

In 2025, the Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis calls everyone to be "Pilgrims of Hope." Reflecting on what it means to be “Pilgrims of Hope”, one might think about hope often. 

Hope involves focusing on the positive and anticipating the best. The Holy Spirit inspires individuals to seek hope in prayer, daily mass readings, scripture studies, and in the Eucharist. We are to encourage others to do the same. That is how we are to be “Pilgrims of Hope.”

This is St. Paul's message to "strive for that Holiness without which no one will see God. See that no one is deprived of the grace of God and nothing or no one rises up to cause trouble, through which many may become defiled."

To be a “Pilgrim of Hope” understand hope. The dictionary defines hope as the "expectation, desire, and feeling of trust for certain things to happen." The Catechism describes hope “as the theological virtue by which people desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life, expecting and desiring happiness.” It emphasizes that "Hope is trusting in God’s promise" and that "Hope is the source of holiness one must have to see God, which comes from the grace of the Holy Spirit."

Hope is rooted in faith. Faith is to entrust oneself to another. Hope extends this trust into the future. The church teaches that Christian hope has been unfolding since the beginning of Jesus' preaching.

In today's gospel, Jesus questions the faith of those in his native place. We should also question their hope of those people in the synagogue. The people who take offense at Him because they see Him as ordinary, despite others speaking highly of Him. Jesus is not honored in His hometown because people cannot see past His human connections. Questioning where did He obtain His teachings and actions. This was Jesus, the carpenter and son of Mary. The familiarity of those who knew him leads to His rejection. They failed to recognize the wisdom and presence of God that had come to their everyday lives.

Familiarity breeds complacency. Today, many of Jesus' followers have become complacent. Jesus, Church, spirituality, and the divine have become the ordinary and familiar. People fail to see the wisdom and presence of God in everyday life. This complacency can sabotage hope. It affects Protestants, Evangelicals, and Catholics alike.

I recently came across a Protestant pastor's blog reflection on the struggle of celebrating the Lord's Supper. He mentions the routine and effort of celebrating the ritual of God’s greatest gift. He notes it must be difficult for churches that celebrate the Eucharist weekly. He said it is easy to become complacent and indifferent toward Holy Communion when it is a regular practice.

When we participate consciously and actively in the Eucharist we come closest to”Christ Jesus our hope. (1 Tim 1:1) There is no boundaries to hope.(Rm 15:13) "Do not deprive anyone of this hope. Do not allow anyone or anything to deprive us of this hope."

Hope from God is the fruit of our humility and perseverance in faith. Hope does not fit in a complacent heart. Hope is the virtue that protects us in our struggle for salvation. Maybe, this blogging pastor needs hope.

Hope began with Jesus' preaching. Ones hope is a relationship with Jesus. We celebrate that hope in the blessed sacrament daily. With the grace of God, persevere as Pilgrims of Hope for all to be saved and united with Christ.