Hope does not disappoint
Hope is the theme of this 2025 Ordinary Jubilee celebrated by the Catholic Church and by many others of goodwill.
The world desperately pleads for peace in today’s war-torn world. Hope is desperately needed in today’s fallen world.
Real and lasting hope, however, is grounded on a particular being. This is the type of hope that isn’t fleeting. It isn’t just emotion and about feeling good. We know all too well that too much emotion is just that—emotion. It goes away with one night’s sleep.
Real and lasting hope, the type that is long-term, the type that doesn’t excessively worry, comes from God. Its foundation is Almighty God and divine grace. A person with real hope doesn’t excessively worry because he or she knows that God will triumph in the end.
As of this writing, it has been one month since the death of Pope Francis. His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday where he gave the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing. His last words uttered in public were: “May Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” What a fitting conclusion to the life of a man who was for more than 50 years an ordained priest.
Then, within a few weeks, many, many things took place in the Church. Members of the College of Cardinals from all over the world started coming to Rome on the occasion of Pope Francis’ death. The atmosphere in the Vatican was most eventful.
Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8. To my joy, he came out of St. Peter’s Basilica wearing the beautiful red papal mozzetta, just one of the vestments that symbolizes his office as Pope. The others are the fisherman’s ring, a pallium (a white cloth that rests on the Pope’s shoulders), the papal red shoes (red symbolizes blood and the willingness to give up one’s life), the papal fanon, and others.
Eventful
Amid all these happenings in the Church, I told my undergraduate Ateneo theology students the following: “Guys, there is no better time to take Theo 11!” Theo 11 refers to the course code of our Faith, Spirituality, and the Church class.
Indeed. The death and election of a Pope? A papal funeral, papal conclave, and the excitement of waiting for the “Habemus Papam!” announcement? There is no better time to be a theology student, where all of your lessons come to life!
In this secularized world that often shuns God, I was happy to see my students visibly excited about these recent happenings. Indeed, spes non confundit—hope does not disappoint.
I take consolation in the great words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 16). He asked his disciples the following question: “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus’ disciples respond: “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then, in a moment which changes history forever, the Apostle Peter answers: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Because of this, Jesus then declares: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”
What a moment of grace that must have been for Peter! But Jesus isn’t done. He continues: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.”
Hope does not disappoint. I rest my hope in the fact that God and His divine grace will win in the end. In this war-torn world, may this hope strengthen us in faith.
Comments are welcome at asmedina@ateneo.edu.
