From the Leadership Circle

Seeking Hope Year-Round

The theme for this issue of the DOME is “Seeking Hope YearRound.” Hope is something I have sought, and continue to seek, for a very long time now. I think one of the reasons Advent is my favorite liturgical season in our Church is because Advent is the season of Hope. Hope appeals to me in a very strong way. The alternative is despair, and this is unacceptable in my book. I choose to hope. And the Scriptures offer all of us so much hope, if only we look for it!

In the Hebrew Scriptures, hope for the coming of a Messiah permeates the writings of the prophet Isaiah, and in the New Testament, Simeon proclaims that what he has hoped for all his life has been accomplished when he sees the infant Jesus. With these words he declares: “My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” (Lk 2:30-32)

When I was a child, I hoped Santa would leave me lots of gifts. I hoped I had been a good girl to warrant receiving gifts and feared I hadn’t. As an adult, I hope for a better world, one where literally: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” (Is 2:4)

I hope for a world where peace prevails, a world where wolves don’t devour sheep, figuratively, and where lions will lie down with the lambs. I hope for a country that can—and will—embrace what is and will be for the common good of all, instead of the selfish notion of what is good for me, and me alone, or what is good for the United States, not considering the devastation wrecked on the poor and marginalized who have no power in our own country, or in other countries. I hope we can repent as a nation and change our policies and systems that have wreaked havoc on people of color, and that have forced people from other countries to seek refuge in ours.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky’s motto is “United we stand, divided we fall.” I sometimes get stuck in the quagmire of not only our state but a country so divided. The divide in our country, as well as in our commonwealth, is great and costing us lives every day, literally. Can we stand united for what all people long for and what the angels proclaimed to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus? “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom (God’s) favor rests.” (Lk 2: 14)

Advent and Christmas are filled with calls to hope for the people of God and peace on earth upon the people whose favor from God rests. Am I—are you—one of these people who is favored by God for our efforts to make a peaceful earth? United? I hope so!

Have a blessed, peace-filled and hope-filled Christmas and New Year, all year.

Sister Rita Ann Wigginton, OSU Councilor, Ursuline Sisters of Louisville