It is easy to give in to feelings of hopelessness when we look at our world today: wars, terrorism, greed, cruelty, and indifference seem rampant. I can feel afraid for what comes next. But hope is not a feeling; hope is a choice I can make and hold in my heart.
Faith is easy when everything is going my way. Faith is challenging when I’m waiting for something. Will I get the news I’m hoping for? Will this project succeed? When will this conflict end? Will he come through for me? Will she get better? Will I get better? “How long, O Lord,” will I have to endure this situation?
Christians are people of hope. “They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Isaiah 40:31
One of the reasons to come together for public prayer is to support one another in the trials of daily life. We may be discouraged, but others can pull us out of despair. We can look around at people who have similar beliefs and know we are not alone. We turn together toward God, join in praise and thanksgiving, and commend our worries to God’s love. We realize that we can pray at home alone or walking through nature, but we need group prayer as well. We need a community to give us strength, to comfort us in our sorrow, and to rejoice with us when there is a reason for celebrating.
Membership in a community can also help us counter selfishness. We see the needs of other people, and we are invited to reach out to them. We can increase our capacity for kindness. We may be people who care about family and friends, we may be willing to put their needs before our own, but are we willing to show concern outside of this inner circle? Worshipping with a community dispels isolation, offsets individualism, and opposes self-centeredness if we permit God to act in us. It used to be possible to sneak through a side door of church and attend Mass without any face-to-face human interaction. I trust that our sense of hospitality and kinship no longer allow a person such anonymity.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
How can you choose to live in hope in 2026?
