Hope against all hope
Catechesis by Pope Francis on Christian Hope
General Audience, Wednesday 29 March 2017 - in Arabic, Croatian, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese & Spanish
"Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
The passage from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans that we have just heard offers us a great gift. Although we are used to recognizing in Abraham our father in the faith; today the Apostle enables us to understand that Abraham is for us a father in hope; not only father in faith, but father in hope. And this is so because in his life story we are already able to perceive an announcement of the Resurrection, of the new life that conquers evil and death itself.
In the text, it states that Abraham believed in God “who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Rom 4:17); and then it explains: “He did not weaken in faith even when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ... or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb” (v. 19). Indeed, this is the experience we too are called to live. The God who reveals himself to Abraham is the God who saves, the God who delivers from despair and from death, the God who calls into life. In the story of Abraham, everything becomes a hymn to the God who sets free and regenerates, everything becomes prophecy. It becomes so for us, because we now recognize and celebrate the fulfilment of all of this in the mystery of Easter. God in fact “raised from the dead Jesus” (v. 24), so that in Him we too might pass from death to life. Thus, truly, Abraham can be called the “father of many nations”, inasmuch as he shines as an announcement of a new humanity — us! — delivered by Christ from sin and from death, and introduced once and for all into God’s loving embrace.
At this point, Paul helps us to focus on the extremely close bond between faith and hope. In fact, he states of Abraham that “in hope he believed against hope” (v. 18). Our hope is not based on rationale, foresight and human confidence; it appears where there is no longer hope, where there is no longer anything to hope in, just as happened to Abraham, facing his imminent death and the barrenness of his wife Sarah. The end was approaching for them; they could not have children, in that situation. Abraham believed and had hope against all hope. And this is great! Great hope is rooted in faith, and for this very reason it is able to transcend all hope. Yes, because it is not based upon our words, but on the Word of God. In this sense too then, we are called to follow the example of Abraham, who — despite all the evidence of a reality in which he seems bound to die — trusts in God, “fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (v. 21). I would like to ask you a question: Are we, all of us, convinced of this? Are we convinced that God loves us and that he is willing to bring to fulfilment all that he promised us? But Father, how much do we have to pay for this? There is a single price: “open your heart”. Open your hearts and this power of God will lead you forward; he will do miraculous things and will teach you what hope is. This is the single price: open your heart to faith, and he will do the rest.
This is the paradox, and at the same time the strongest element, our highest hope! A hope based on a promise that, from the human point of view, seems uncertain and unpredictable, but which never fails, not even in the face of death, when the One who promises is the God of the Resurrection and Life. Not just anyone promises this! The One who promises this is the God of the Resurrection and life.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, today we ask the Lord for the grace to remain grounded, not so much in our own certainties, our own abilities, but in the hope that springs from God’s promise, as true children of Abraham. When God promises, he brings to fulfilment what he has promised. He never fails to keep his word. Then our lives will take on a new light, in the awareness that the One who resurrected his Son, will also raise us and will truly make us one with Him, together with all our brothers and sisters in faith. We all believe. Today we are all in the Square; let us praise the Lord. We will sing the Our Father, then we will receive the blessing.... But this passes. This too is a promise of hope. If today we have an open heart, I assure you that all of us will encounter, in the Square, the Heaven that never ends; it is forever. This is God’s promise and this is our hope, if we open our hearts. Thank you."
Saluti:
"Je salue cordialement les pèlerins de langue française, en particulier les jeunes venus de France ainsi que l’Association des Paralysés de France et la Communauté de la Source. Alors que nous nous préparons à célébrer la mort et la résurrection de Jésus, ayons toujours la ferme espérance de ressusciter un jour avec lui. Que cette espérance nous donne la force de persévérer sur le chemin de notre vie. Que Dieu vous bénisse.
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly the groups from England, Scotland, Finland, Norway, the Philippines and the United States of America. I offer a special welcome to the United Kingdom’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Holy See, with appreciation for their work. With prayerful good wishes that this Lent will be a time of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!
Einen herzlichen Gruß richte ich an die Pilger und Besucher deutscher Sprache. Gebt eurer Hoffnung Nahrung durch den täglichen Kontakt mit Christus im Gebet, beim Lesen der Heiligen Schrift und in den Werken der Liebe. Nutzt gut diese Fastenzeit, um den Glauben an den Gott des Lebens zu erneuern. Der Herr beschütze euch und eure Familien.
Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española. Pidamos a la Virgen María que en este tiempo de cuaresma nos ayude a intensificar nuestra preparación espiritual para que la celebración del misterio pascual de Cristo renueve nuestra fe y nuestra esperanza. Que el Señor los bendiga. Muchas gracias.
Com particular afeto, saúdo o grupo de «Amigos dos Museus de Portugal» e também os professores e os alunos do «Colégio Cedros», desejando a todos os peregrinos presentes de língua portuguesa e respetivas famílias uma renovada vitalidade espiritual na fiel e generosa adesão a Cristo e à Igreja. Olhai o futuro com esperança e não vos canseis de trabalhar na vinha do Senhor. Vele sobre o vosso caminho a Virgem Maria.
أُرحّبُ بالحجّاجِ الناطقينَ باللغةِ العربية، وخاصةً بالوفد الذي يضمُّ ممثلين عن أديان مختلفة والقادم من العراق! أيها الإخوةُ والأخواتُ الأعزاء، بالإيمان قبِلت مريم كلمة الملاك وآمنت بالبشارة بأنها ستصبح أم الله وقبلت في نفسها أيضا ما لم تفهمه من عمل الله، إذ سمحت له بأن يفتح لها عقلها وقلبها. هكذا وعلى مثالها، قد دعينا نحن أيضًا لنعيش يعضدنا الإيمان وننظر برجاء إلى تحقيق مشيئة الله في حياتنا. ليُبارككُم الرب!
Serdecznie pozdrawiam polskich pielgrzymów, a szczególnie grupę niewidomych z Wieliczki. Drodzy bracia i siostry, przygotowując się do sprawowania tajemnic śmierci i zmartwychwstania naszego Pana, uczmy się żyć nadzieją mocniejszą od śmierci i każdego zła, bo opartą na słowie Boga, który wskrzesił z martwych swojego Syna i również nas wskrzesi do nowego życia. Niech Jego błogosławieństwo stale wam towarzyszy. Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus!"
APPELLO
"Sono lieto di salutare la delegazione di sovraintendenze irachene composta da rappresentanti di diversi gruppi religiosi, accompagnata da Sua Eminenza il Cardinale Tauran, Presidente del Pontificio Consiglio per il Dialogo Interreligioso. La ricchezza della cara nazione irachena sta proprio in questo mosaico che rappresenta l’unità nella diversità, la forza nell’unione, la prosperità nell’armonia. Cari fratelli, vi incoraggio ad andare avanti su questa strada e invito a pregare affinché l’Iraq trovi nella riconciliazione e nell’armonia tra le sue diverse componenti etniche e religiose, la pace, l’unità e la prosperità. Il mio pensiero va alle popolazioni civili intrappolate nei quartieri occidentali di Mosul e agli sfollati per causa della guerra, ai quali mi sento unito nella sofferenza, attraverso la preghiera e la vicinanza spirituale. Nell’esprimere profondo dolore per le vittime del sanguinoso conflitto, rinnovo a tutti l’appello ad impegnarsi con tutte le forze nella protezione dei civili, quale obbligo imperativo ed urgente.
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Rivolgo un cordiale benvenuto ai pellegrini di lingua italiana. Saluto i sacerdoti del Movimento dei focolari, l’associazione “Provida Italia” e il Comitato Pro Venerdì Santo di Cave. Saluto i fedeli di Cassino, che ricordano il settantesimo anniversario della consacrazione della Chiesa di Sant’Antonio di Padova; il Gruppo “Unasca Italia” e la squadra di Basket for ever di Gaeta. May your visit to the Eternal City arouse in each of you communion with the Universal Church and with the Successor of Peter.
Lastly, I express a special greeting to young people, to the sick and to newlyweds. Dear young people, the Lenten period is a precious time to rediscover the importance of faith in daily life. Dear sick people, unite your suffering to Jesus’ Cross for the building of the civilization of love. And you, dear newlyweds, promote the presence of God in your new family."