Sowers of hope

As he concluded his series of catecheses on the Spirit and the Bride, on Wednesday morning, 11 December, Pope Francis highlighted that Christians should not simply have hope, but radiate it. The following is a translation of the Holy Father’s words which he delivered in Italian in the Paul vi Hall.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Good morning!

We have reached the end of our catecheses on the Holy Spirit and the Church. We will devote this final reflection to the title of the entire series, namely: “The Holy Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the People of God towards Jesus our hope”. This title refers to one of the last verses of the Bible, in the Book of Revelation, which says: “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come’” (Rev 22:17). Who is this invocation addressed to? It is addressed to the risen Christ. Indeed, both Saint Paul (cf. 1 Cor 16:22) and the Didaché, a text from apostolic times, attest that during the liturgical meetings of the first Christians, a cry in Aramaic could be heard: “Maràna tha!”, which means “Come, Lord!”. A prayer to Christ, for Him to come.

In those early days, the invocation had a background we would describe today as eschatological. Indeed, it expressed the ardent expectation of the glorious return of the Lord. And this cry, and the expectation it expresses, have never been extinguished in the Church. Still today, immediately after the consecration at Mass, she proclaims Christ’s death and resurrection “as we await the blessed hope and [His] coming”. The Church awaits the coming of the Lord.

But this expectation of the final coming of Christ is not the one and only remaining. It has also been joined by the expectation of his continuous coming in the present and pilgrim situation of the Church. And it is this coming that the Church thinks of above all, when, animated by the Holy Spirit, she cries out to Jesus: “Come!”.

A change, or better, let’s say, a development, full of meaning, has occurred with regard to the cry, “Come”, “Come, Lord!”. It is not habitually addressed only to Christ, but also to the Holy Spirit himself! He who cries out is now him to whom we cry out. “Come!” is the invocation with which we begin almost all Church hymns and prayers addressed to the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit”, we say in the Veni Creator, and “Come, Holy Spirit”, “Veni Sancte Spiritus”, in the sequence of Pentecost; and so on, in many other prayers. It is right that it should be so, because, after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit is Christ’s true “alter ego”. He who takes his place, who makes Him present and operative in the Church. He is the one who “declares… the things that are to come” (cf. Jn 16:13) and makes them desired and expected. This is why Christ and the Spirit are inseparable, also in the economy of salvation.

The Holy Spirit is the ever-gushing source of Christian hope. Saint Paul left us these precious words: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rm 15:13). If the Church is a boat, the Holy Spirit is the sail that propels it and lets it advance on the sea of history, today as in the past!

Hope is not an empty word, or a vague desire of ours that things may turn out for the best. Hope is a certainty, because it is founded on God’s fidelity to his promises. And this is why it is called a theological virtue: because it is infused by God and has God as its guarantor. It is not a passive virtue, which merely waits for things to happen. It is a supremely active virtue that helps make them happen. Someone who fought for the liberation of the poor wrote these words: “The Holy Spirit is at the origin of the cry of the poor. He is the strength given to those who have no strength. He leads the struggle for the emancipation and full realization of the people of the oppressed”.1

The Christian cannot be satisfied with having hope; he or she must also radiate hope, be a sower of hope. It is the most beautiful gift that the Church can give to all of humanity, especially at times in which everything seems to be dragging down the sails.

The Apostle Peter exhorted the first Christians with these words: “in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you”.

But he added a recommendation: “yet do it with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pt 3:15-16). And this is because it is not so much the strength of the arguments that will convince people, the love we can show through them. This is the first and most effective form of evangelization. And it is open to everyone!

Dear brothers and sisters, may the Spirit always, always help us to “abound in hope”, by virtue of the Holy Spirit! Thank you.

1  J. Comblin, Spirito Santo e liberazione, Assisi 1989, 236.

Special Greetings

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially the groups from England, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and the United States. In a particular way, I greet the priests, consecrated persons and seminarians from Tanzania, who have come to Rome for their studies. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!

Every day I am following what is happening in Syria, in this moment that is so delicate in its history. I hope that a political solution may be reached that, without further conflicts or divisions, may responsibly promote the stability and unity of the country. I pray, by the intercession of the Virgin Mary, that the Syrian people may live in peace and security in their beloved land, and that the different religions may walk together in friendship and mutual respect for the good of the nation, afflicted by so many years of war.

Lastly, my thoughts turn to young people, to the sick, to the elderly and to newlyweds. During this Advent Season, go towards the Lord — who comes to save us — with a trusting heart.

And I always think about martyred Ukraine which is suffering so much due to the war. Let us pray that a way out may be found. And I think of Palestine, Israel and Myanmar. May peace return! May there be peace! War is always a defeat. Let us pray for peace.