Reflection
We need hope. Hope begets hope. Remember, we are people of hope. We grow in hope by embracing interdependency and connectedness, leaning on each other when we falter, and offering a hand when we see the need. Our hope is not rooted in some fleeting optimism, but in the enduring truths of our faith grounded in the Gospels, which teach boundless love and the core belief that darkness does not have the last word. Our mission, though not new, has become increasingly urgent. We must speak the truth, live with integrity, reach out to those in need, build and preservejust structures. May they reflect the most sacred of our values and an unwavering commitment to truth.
NCR Editorial Staff
Prayer
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them .
Psalm 34:17
Action
Consider some of the ways you can practice and offer hope. Try to be a sign of hope for others.
Suggested Reading
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
True hope does not involve escaping pain but persevering in love.
Pope Leo
Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness… but can clearly see tomorrow.
Pope Francis
I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.
Dalai Lama
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.
Jonas Salk
We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.
Franklin Roosevelt
The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.
Barbara Kingsolver
Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.
Robert H. Schuller
hope is a series of small actions that transform darkness into light.
Joan Chittister
Hope is like peace. It is not a gift from God. It is a gift only we can give one another.
Elie Wiesel