The Hope That Does Not Disappoint
“But through the merits of Jesus Christ and of his Passion, God keeps us in the ‘hope that does not disappoint” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1820).
“I Thirst”: Using Our Gifts to Quench Christ’s Thirst
In a message by Pope St. John Paul II for Lent 1993, the great pope called the Church to reflect on Jesus’ words, “I thirst” (John 19:28) and “Give me a drink” (John 4:7). In these words, he wrote, ‘we hear a cry from the poor, especially those who did not have access to clean water’. In a subsequent letter to the Missionaries of Charity, St. Teresa of Calcutta (then simply known as Mother Teresa) elaborated on this message:
“‘I thirst’ is something much deeper than Jesus just saying ‘I love you.’ Until you know deep inside that Jesus thirsts for you — you can’t begin to know who He wants to be [for] you. Or who He wants you to be for Him.”
This Lent, Catholic Women in Business invites you to reflect with us on how Jesus thirsts for each one of us and how we can quench His thirst — through prayer, through sacrifice, through loving His children who are most in need (and there are so many this Lent in particular!). In our content this season, we’ll be exploring how, as Catholic professionals, we can begin to understand “who He wants to be” for us, “who He wants [us] to be for Him,” and how we can share His great love for us all with everyone we encounter.
Lent: A Spiritual New Leaf
Maybe some of you also approached this Lent similarly to New Year’s Day. We intended to use this time to turn over a new leaf and make positive changes. We were going to focus on what really matters and rid our minds and souls of the clutter. We believed that although we lacked follow-through at the beginning of the year, this time would be different, because by committing our resolutions to Jesus, our intentions would be deeper and more meaningful.
Our Lenten goals, such as drinking more water, following a budget, fasting after 7 p.m., working on tax forms early, doing sit-ups, being kinder to certain individuals, and praying more were good, sound objectives. And yet, here we are during Holy Week, with some of us thinking, “Argh, I blew it again.”
Even Peter Blew It
Although we began Lent strong and confident, it only took a week, a couple of days, or even just a few hours before we were faced with opportunities to do right and passed them by. We were tired, distracted, hungry, frustrated, confused, hurt, or embarrassed, so we picked the path of least resistance. We did the thing we have done for years instead of choosing the new behavior we declared we would do.
It is easy to be down on ourselves, but we are in some noteworthy company. When we read Peter’s words to Jesus — “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37) — and then picture Peter’s face after he denies Jesus again, we see a glimpse of that crushing and recognizable disappointment in ourselves.
Yet, we know that Peter was called again. And, eventually, he stood up, and he did what he said he would do. There is hope for us.
Hope Prevails
Holy Week provides many opportunities to experience tangible connections to the spiritual rhythm of the week. On Palm Sunday, our fingers run along the texture of the fronds. On Holy Thursday, we take in the sights and sounds of the Last Supper, including seeing the oddity of the washing of feet and hearing what must have been startling words during the meal. On Good Friday, we are struck by the bareness of the church. Lastly, on Holy Saturday, we are unsettled by the quiet and continue to wrestle with the disturbing imagery of the crucifixion.
We traverse the days of Holy Week with these tactile and meaningful reminders of our faith’s history, knowing that things are going to be alright. We have the benefit of knowing that Easter is around the corner. If we really let the story sink in, this annual experience serves as an example of how to approach every day with the awareness that real hope is there all of the time.
God provides a hope that will never be subject to that disappointment that Peter had or that we encounter when we misstep once again. That hope “is the ‘sure and steadfast anchor of the soul ... that enters ... where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1820, quoting Hebrews 6:19-20).
Go Forward, With Reminders
What if our daily actions reflected this knowledge? Our professional, personal, physical, and spiritual lives would be infused with the confidence that comes from saying “yes” to God’s promise.
Since we are certain to slip up, we need to remember that with God, there is no “three strikes and you’re out.” With God, there is no disqualifying number of mistakes. With God, there is no line that can be crossed, never to come back. As Peter’s experience tells us, we, too, can do what we said we would do, even if it is not when we originally said we would do it.
Inspired by the sights and sounds of our Holy Week experience, we can incorporate tangible reminders on our desks, car consoles, kitchen counters, nightstands, and even jewelry to keep that hope front and center.
Armed with the hope that does not disappoint, we have the grace to enter each day anew, with the energy we bring to New Year’s Day and the beginning of Lent. This Holy Week, let us embrace such hope and keep it close throughout the year.
Linda A. Burrows is an attorney specializing in trust and estate law in southern California. She studied journalism at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and law at Pepperdine, and is currently pursuing a master’s in tax law at Georgetown. Linda is the founder of Soul Soda, a non-profit with the mission of refreshing faith in those, particularly Catholics, who are feeling disconnected from their religious roots. She is a wife and mother of three teens. Linda’s Confirmation name was that of St. Gabriel the Archangel.