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.
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