hope and sadness

I have many fond memories of Resurrection Parish. When Fr. Carr was pastor here our family would come to Mass here once a month just to hear his thoughtful and well formulated sermons. Fr. Carr gave the sermon at my first Mass. When I was in the seminary I would visit Fr. Coakley in the Summer and he would help me with my discernment. I asked Fr. Coakley to vest me at my ordination.

My mom always expected more from the faith. As a child I never experienced the faith as something small or cramped or limiting. I never remember my parents saying, "we have to go to Mass." It was always something very natural and something that would expand our lives and hearts. Her expectation of more helped us to open our hearts to greater gifts from God.

Sometimes when we expect more this can lead to a critical attitude of disappointment, but the virtue of hope is the longing for more from the one who can give it. Hope is the the natural result of a living faith. Faith is the light of God's Word in our intelligence. Hope is the desire of the heart for what one sees by faith. Certainly there is sadness and disappointment in life, but this sadness is a reminder that we want more, that we desire the eternal. The temptation is to alleviate this sadness by settling for something less. We pretend that something finite, like power, possessions, or pleasure can satisfy our longing. The faith never limits our human capacities, rather faith extends our vision and opens us up to the eternal love of God.

Do not be afraid to hope for more, not even when this increases your sadness. Your thirst can never be greater than God's desire to fill you with His love.