Beloved Parishioners,

On February 2nd, the Church celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. It was on this day that Simeon made this statement from which our reflection of today took its theme.

Thus, this reflection is culled from the beautiful moment in the Gospel of Luke when Simeon, an old and faithful servant of God, looks upon the infant Jesus in the temple and declares, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace.” These words, spoken in reverence and joy, mark the fulfillment of Simeon’s lifelong hope. Remember that Simeon had been given a special revelation by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:26). Imagine the weight of that promise. How many nights did Simeon lie awake, wondering when the Messiah would come? How many years did he wait, clinging to the assurance that God would fulfill His word? He had waited and now, in his arms, he holds the very Savior of the world and his hope never failed him.

Like Simeon, we too live in a world that often feels like it is waiting—for healing, for restoration, for peace, for justice. We are not unlike Simeon, hoping for God’s intervention in the midst of our struggles. But Simeon’s life teaches us that hope doesn’t disappoint (Romans 5:5). His words to us, are a reminder that God fulfills His promises in His perfect timing. We, therefore, are called to hold on to hope, trusting that God’s promises for us will come to fruition. This is the theme of the jubilee that Our Holy Father Pope Francis has called us all to share with everyone that hope does not disappoint.

For Simeon, hope had a face—Jesus Christ, the Savior. The arrival of Christ signifies that God’s promises to His people have been fulfilled since in Jesus, we find the ultimate expression of God love, mercy, and faithfulness. This is a call for us to renew our confidence that Christ, the light of the world, is the fulfillment of all our hopes. No matter what challenges we face, we can declare like Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). What is more? We as Christians ought to reflect Christ to others in our deeds. We continually ought to challenge ourselves to a deeper and personal relationship with Jesus, our hope.

Today, we find ourselves in the Jubilee Year of Hope, a year declared by the Church to focus on the unwavering hope that Christ offers to the world. The proclamation of this Jubilee is also framed within the context of Pope Francis’ Bull of Indiction, Spes Non Confundit — a document that reminds us that our hope, anchored in Christ, will never disappoint, or fail. This message is crucial in the context of our own lives because in it, Pope Francis speaks of the dynamic nature of hope: it does not leave us passive but calls us to actively participate in God’s redemptive work. Our hope is not just a personal comfort; it is a force that drives us toward greater faith, compassion, and commitment to the good of others.

Further, Pope Francis emphasizes that this hope, which does not disappoint, also compels us to be witnesses of hope in the world. Just as Simeon’s joy overflowed into a prophetic declaration for the nations, we too are called to proclaim the hope we have in Christ. Our hope in Christ is a beacon to others, pointing them to the Savior who is the light of the world.

Pope Francis invites us to discover hope in the signs of the times that the Lord gives us and see ways we can extend these signs of hope to other people. For him, signs of hope should also be shown to the sick, at home or in the hospital. Their sufferings can be allayed by the closeness and affection of those who visit them. Works of mercy are also works of hope that give rise to immense gratitude.

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