Prophets of Hope

by Rosemary O’Brien, SSJ

“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
and sings the tune without the words
and never stops at all.”
~Emily Dickinson

Hope is the word that is perched in my soul these Advent days, as I try to sing the tune without the words.
How does one hope while experiencing the darkness of world realities?
How does a heart sing when there is so much sorrow and lamentation?
Like the December snowfall that blankets the earth with quiet and peace, and slows us down, Advent invites us to stop. Be alert. Wake up. Pay attention. Listen.
The stories of our faith and the faith of our ancestors continue to remind us that the God who so loved this world became Love to teach us how to be Love and Light in the darkness. We hope in the promise that God is with us always and in all ways.
Prophets of hope keep the light of hope burning through words that can stir our imagination. Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, former Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, for example, challenges us to hope while grounded in reality. “When you touch the pain of the world,” she says, “it releases hope in the darkness.”
How do I/we touch the pain of the world? How do I/we release hope in the darkness?
As I ponder the first question, I realize that I can’t shut myself off from the news, but I need to be more faithful about praying with the Bible in one hand and the news source in the other…
–to see each person as the dear neighbor who is loved by God and each situation in need of healing and reconciliation.
–to seek the truth through contemplative prayer, education, and meaningful conversations.
–to develop a contemplative way of being present to the suffering poor and marginalized and to the dear neighbor near to me.

As for the second question, perhaps a good place to begin is to notice signs of hope in ordinary, everyday life…
–the apparition of a brilliant red cardinal on a snowy tree branch;
–the person who really sees you and calls you by name;
–emergency responders who tirelessly answer calls for help;
–meals prepared and served with care;
–an unexpected telephone call or “thinking of you” note;
–the first breath of a new day of living;
and the list goes on.
I believe that if and when I notice and appreciate signs of hope accompanied by profound gratitude, I’m more able to release hope in the darkness. A hope that begins to sing the tune with words that light the way for and with others.

The following words from the Canticle of Zechariah, describe God’s merciful and loving nature, God’s promise of hope and light.

“In the tender compassion of our God,
The dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:78