As Eugene reflects on the necessity of focusing on hope in difficult times, he remembers how he constantly urges the Oblates to live in this spirit of hopeful confidence in the love of God. Addressing hope, he writes:
You whom I have preached so often to my brothers to encourage them to serve God,
and to inspire them to live by the love of God and not by fear
Retreat notes, May 1824, EO XV n. 156
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in your faith, so that in the power of the Holy Spirit you may be rich in hope.” Romans 15:13
“To inspire them to live by the love of God and not by fear.” I can remember when I was very young hearing about this fierce God who would punish me if I wasn’t good (translate to perfect). I translated that to mean that I had to be “good enough” to be loved by God. That was a never-ending circle of not being good enough and so not being loved. There wasn’t a whole lot of hope or joy in God for me.
To live in the light of fear is to almost live on the edge of the Light (rather than in it), it is to live a life of trying to measure up, to earn, to be worthy of. More like living on the edge of an abyss. But with the joy of hope – a different world entirely. I also remember hearing the term “Immense Hope” – from an Oblate – it fired my imagination – I was drawn to it – excited by it. This was what ‘captured me’. I wanted to live in immense hope.
I think that to realise and live in the joy of God’s love is to become richer in that gift of Hope. That spirit – I shall call her Hope.