Hope-Givers

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” 

He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”  (Luke 21:5-11)

This reading is about hope – hope for awesome sights and mighty signs to counter the gloom of 2020 caused by the coronavirus and politics at its very worst running counter to unity and tearing and throwing down one stone upon another.  

Jesus tells us not to be deceived and not to follow those who cause nations to rise against nations and kingdom against kingdom.  In a prophetic way he tells us that plagues will end.  We certainly hope promises of effective vaccines are one of those awesome sights.

Hope is precious and must be second nature for us.  Consider this story about the “Hope-Giver” provided by Father William J. Bausch.

I remember a time when I was sitting on the antique seat that Helen has treasured through the years.  Because the original fabric had worn through, Helen had recently recovered it in a handsome corduroy. 

A heavy storm was in progress, and I sat staring at the rain pelting down on dead, autumn leaves.  The gloomy look of the garden seemed to match the mood of hopelessness that had come over me.  Problems at work had made me fearful of the future.  Basic questions that surface with the coming of middle-age had made me fearful of life itself.

I started to light my pipe and accidentally spilled some hot ash that burned a hole right in the center of the window seat cover.  Seeing what had happened, Helen calmly threaded a needle and stitched a beautiful flower over the charred spot.

When I looked at the finished work, I realized that it was a striking symbol of our long life together, and my spirits began to soar.  I had married a repairer of broken spirits, a healer of wounds, a woman whose very presence was an antidote to fear.  Moreover, I understood, perhaps for the very first time, that it was Helen’s deep and abiding trust in God’s goodness that made it possible for her to be a source of light and a harbinger of hope in times of darkness and despair. [end]

As we enter a winter of darkness and despair for many people, let’s find the Helen’s in our lives.  Better yet, let’s be the source of light and harbinger for others.

Deacon David Pierce