He spoke on the subject of hope today during his General Audience, and he offered some practical pointers that I think are especially timely:
No matter “where God has planted you, hope. Always hope,” he said, explaining:
— Enemy No. 1 is not out there somewhere, but inside oneself. “Don’t make room for bitter or dark thoughts.”
— “Believe in the existence of the most noble and beautiful truths” and trust that God, through the Holy Spirit, is ushering everything toward the good, toward “Christ’s embrace.”
— Believers are not alone in their faith. There are others who hope, too. “The world goes on thanks to the vision of many people who created an opening, who built bridges, who dreamed and believed, even when they heard words of derision around them.”
— Never believe the struggles here on earth are “useless.” God never disappoints and he wants that seed he planted in everyone to bloom. “God made us to flower, too.”
— “Wherever you are, build!”
— When life gets hard, and “you have fallen, get up. Never stay down. Get up and let people help you to your feet.”
— “If you’re sitting, start walking!” Start the journey.
— “If you’re bored stiff, crush (boredom) with good works.”
— “If you feel empty and demoralized, ask if the Holy Spirit may newly replenish” that void.
— Work for peace among people.
— Don’t listen to those “who spread hatred and division.”
—No matter how different people are from one another, human beings “were created to live together. With disputes, wait patiently. One day you will discover that a sliver of truth has been entrusted to everyone.”
— Love people. Respect everyone’s journey — whether it be troubled or down the straight and narrow because everyone has a story behind them.
Those are just for starters. Read it all. You’ll be glad you did. You can also watch a video of the audience here.
