I HOPE SO

“In His name, the Gentiles will find hope.” –Matthew 12:21

Mass Readings: July 22
First: Exodus 12:37-42; Resp: Psalm 136:1,23-24,10-15; Gospel: John 20:1-2,11-18

Listen to the Mass Readings

As we begin the third millennium, with much of the world ensconced in the culture of death after ending the last with the only two world wars in history, the Lord is calling us to hope in Him. The Church through Pope Pius XII defined the doctrine of Mary’s Assumption in 1950. After all the centuries this doctrine was preached and believed, the Church chose to define it in 1950 as a proclamation of hope. Vatican II’s great document on the Church concludes by proclaiming Mary as the “sign of sure hope” (Lumen Gentium, 68). Pope St. John Paul II introduced the Catechism of the Catholic Church with the Scripture: “Venerate the Lord, that is, Christ, in your hearts. Should anyone ask you the reason for this hope of yours, be ever ready to reply” (1 Pt 3:15). Pope St. John Paul II prophetically named one of his books Crossing the Threshold of Hope. “In hope we were saved. But hope is not hope if its object is seen; how is it possible for one to hope for what he sees? And hoping for what we cannot see means awaiting it with patient endurance” (Rm 8:24-25).

Hear the prophecy of hope. Be a sign of hope. Be a prophet of hope. “This hope will not leave us disappointed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us” (Rm 5:5).

PRAYER: Father, may I be motivated by hope.
PROMISE: “This was a night of vigil for the Lord, as He led them out of the land of Egypt; so on this same night all the Israelites must keep a vigil for the Lord throughout their generations.” –Ex 12:42
PRAISE: St. Mary Magdalene hoped to find Jesus’ body at the tomb and incredibly found the risen Lord. She evangelized the first pope (Jn 20:18).