The Works of Mercy as a Sign of Hope in Suffering
We have left World Day of the Sick behind, but one question still revolves within us: can we hope while suffering?
Hope and pain-it seems impossible to us, but true hope is born in pain!
Pain as a teacher of mercy
Grief, physical or emotional, is an inescapable part of human existence. It can manifest itself in countless forms: from the loss of a loved one, to illness, to disappointment, to anxiety. This deep and often devastating feeling has the ability to reduce our certainties to ashes, leaving us vulnerable and disoriented. However, in its cruelty, grief carries valuable lessons. It teaches us humility, reminds us of our mortality and prompts us to seek meaning and comfort.
Through pain, we can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. Suffering makes us empathetic, connects us to others’ experiences and makes us aware of the frailties we share as human beings. In a sense, pain can be seen as a stern but indispensable teacher, guiding us through the shadows of our existence and preparing us to know how to practice works of mercy with more awareness, empathy, humility and authenticity.
Hope as a beacon
In contrast to sorrow, hope is like a shining beacon in the storms of life. It is the life force that propels us forward, that makes us believe in a better tomorrow despite the hardships of the present. Hope is what sustains us in the darkest moments, which gives us the strength to get back up after every fall and to continue to struggle and live following in the footsteps of the Risen Crucified Jesus.
Hope is the conviction that, despite everything, there are possibilities for change and improvement. It is the spark that ignites our dreams and motivates us to follow them. Without hope, our lives and actions would be without direction and meaning.
The mystery between hope and sorrow
Grief can intensify our hope, making it more vibrant and meaningful. At the same time, hope can make pain more bearable, offering a ray of light in the midst of darkness.
Outside of human logic, it is a mystery of God working in us, in our hearts. Man is capable of hope in pain, but we are not always able to tap into this capacity.
Everything finds its origin in the Paschal mystery of Jesus, in Him Crucified and Risen. Like Him, we can be in pain, hit rock bottom, but by loving we blossom new life and the unexpected comes.
Love is a sign that we have hope and that it is possible to change something and defeat evil in the world. When I feed a hungry person, I show my hope that tomorrow there could be a world without hunger.
Hope motivates us to love, and our love gives birth to hope in the hearts of the suffering. We are all connected, giving and receiving sparks of hope in our hearts.
We know that the Risen Jesus carries the marks of his wounds, marks of love. Even our wounds and falls can rise redeemed in Him. This is our hope: it is not in solving our problems now, but to find them redeemed in Him. We hope in what is unseen and unheard, and this is how we come to the heroics of Hope: when, for example, we comfort a brother or sister who is in sadness while our heart is broken. This is pure love without interest, but full of hope.
Let us continue to sow hope in suffering hearts by concretely living mercy, and new hope will bloom in us too!
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- Image digitally created by spazio + spadoni