"Happy are they who hope in the Lord"

Psalm 39:5

I worked really hard on my studies in fifth grade. I wanted to be noticed and earn approval. At the end of the year there would be a big all-school assembly where the teachers would hand out the academic awards. My hope was to win the top-student award for my parents and everyone to see. My approval rating would then be sky high and all would be well in the world. So, I worked diligently for this goal all year long. It was the end of the year, I had sweated blood (just a figure of speech) for that coveted #1 rating, and it was time for the big awards assembly. I was excited about my approval rating jetting up, up and away when I found out that the school was canceling the awards assembly that year. I do not know why they did not have it but I do know that all my hopes to publicly receive a high approval rating from my parents and everyone else went down the drain.

I placed my hope in something (a public assembly recognizing my great academic achievement) that could or could not happen. How often do we do that in our lives- place our hope in something that could or could not happen? Maybe my dad will someday tell me that he loves me. My stocks could really do well or crash. If I am successful enough in school, will those whom I am trying to gain approval from finally give me their nod of approval?

Where do you place your hope? If it is not in the Lord, your hope will disappoint. Everyone and everything will eventually let you down because they cannot save you and bring you lasting happiness.

God is not a maybe. He is not someone that could or could not happen for us. He is not like the awards assembly that could or could not happen this year. He is unchanging in perfectly providing for us happiness and salvation.

Our hope is in the Lord who made and saves heaven and earth. We are called to hope in The Lord for our happiness. He does not disappoint.

To grow in the hope that does not disappoint, memorize and remember often Sirach 2:10:

“Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? Has anyone called upon his name and been rebuffed?”

God’s will!
+Fr. John