Monday, June 5: Grow in Hope

by The Very Rev’d Kevin Martin

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten
R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away

So we pray daily in the evening prayers of the Church. It certainly makes sense to pray daily that the needy not be forgotten, but why pray daily that the poor not lose hope?

Hope is, of course, one of the three theological virtues, ?now abides faith, hope and love.? Love may be the greatest, but hope is still given a high place among what we in the church value. Hope is the unflinching faith that God?s love will triumph at the end. It is the manifestation of what we once called ?realized eschatology;? the living presence of the future.

And hope is usually the last thing that humans will surrender. Victor Frankel attributed to hope the primary dynamic shared among those who survived the death camps of his day. When hope is lost, a grim resignation and despair seem to replace it.

I still remember vividly the first parishioner I had (some thirty years ago) given a terminal diagnosis from her doctors. She was so full of life and continually courageous in the face of her progressing cancer. I once asked her, ?What do you want to know about your illness?? I will never forget her penetrating response, ?I want the truth, the whole truth, but not nothing but the truth. I need some hope at the end of each day.?

Her hope was to see her 20 year old engaged daughter?s wedding. Despite frailness, she held on to the wedding day. Taken from the wedding to her bed too weak to attend the reception, I drew near to her. I knew her last hope was fulfilled, and I feared that now despair and resignation might set in. ?Are you OK,? I asked. Knowing my meaning she smiled and said, ?I told you I would make it and I did.? I awaited her next words. True to her spirit, a wry smile came upon her face, ?I do have two other daughters,? she assured me. Her hope had not been taken away.

Often these days, it seems that a grim resignation has settled upon our church, especially our leaders. They seem to have accepted that the present problems, discord, and even polarization will continue. Many have resigned themselves to the idea that divisions must increase, and that the decline of our church is written in the destiny of others of the ?mainline.? Has our hope been taken away?

Growth in hope is possible not because we wear rose-tinted glasses. Hope is not merely optimism. Growth in hope is possible because when all else fails us, like the poor, it becomes all that we have. Yet, as long as we have it, we have all that it promises. Give to your church in these days, O Lord, growth in hope.
— The Very Rev’d Kevin Martin was recently called as Dean of the Cathedral of St. Matthew in the Diocese of Dallas.