Daring to hope

By Fr. Tom Daly SCA

The world seems filled with gloom and desolation as we reflect on the tragedy unfolding in Haiti. In the dust of the ruins and the utter desolation how can we even dare to speak or think of Christian Hope?

During these early days of February we encourage parishioners to bring in their old palm crosses which we burn to use as the ashes for Ash Wednesday. And so another great cycle of the Liturgy begins. The ashes at the beginning of Lent remind us of our own mortality: "Remember you are but Dust and into dust you shall return".

These words we hear again in the rite of committal for burial where they are always followed by the words: "But the Lord Jesus Christ, will change our mortal bodies to be like his in glory."

Our Lenten journey of prayer, fasting and almsgiving always leads to Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the great and joyful feast of the Resurrection. The God of life who first formed us from the dust of the earth is always leading us to Resurrection. He is always calling us from darkness into light. In ways and times that we cannot imagine, He speaks His Word and brings order into the ruin and chaos of our lives and of our troubled world.

Here in England this summer we prepare for the canonization of Cardinal Newman. We might use his prayer to guide us:

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!