HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE…

Romans 8:18-25

18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Luke 13:18-21

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”  

MEDITATION

St PAUL ADDRESS the theological virtues of hope.

Catec 2092 There are two kinds of presumption. Either man presumes upon his own capacities, (hoping to be able to save himself without help from on high), or he presumes upon God’s almighty power or his mercy (hoping to obtain his forgiveness without conversion and glory without merit).

Catec 1818 The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; it takes up the hopes that inspire men’s activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven; it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude. Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity.

THE GOSPEL READING: Jesus seeks to give his hearers some insight into the mystery and nature of the kingdom of the Father that He reqularly refers to. He compares a small mustard seed and a small piece of yeast to illustrate His point. Under the right atmospheric conditions,seed and a piece of leaven has the potential to grow, developed and transform into fruitful substances that are admired and desired for the intrinsic good it represents and transfer.

Our journey of faith is grounded in hope, a spiritual and theological virtue that we must seek to attain in this life. In other words, in order to be recognized as citizens of God’s kingdom we are required to grow such that we conform to the mould of the beatitudes (Mt 5:3ff) that Christ offers us. Hope is not visible to the human eye, it is instead a disposition of the heart, mind and soul that works in concert with the teachings of Christ as enumerated and handed on to us by His Church. It must therefore be our endeavor to live out and give witness to His message of salvation as we appropriate the beatitudes of love and selfless giving!

LET US PRAY:Psalms 126:1-6

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb! 5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy!
6 He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.