Signs of the times, signs of hope
As we approach the midpoint of Lent, it would be wise to take a self-assessment. How are we doing with the commitments we made this season? Regardless of our Lenten goals, they all have one thing in common: to draw us closer to God. We are preparing to celebrate the Easter miracle of our faith, and so we “rend our hearts, not our garments” as the Prophet Joel implores us. At this midpoint we find courage to go forward toward a new future — yet we must bridge the divide to get there.
In today’s readings, the Prophet Jeremiah encourages us to “Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.” It is in prayer that we still our hearts and minds long enough to listen to God’s voice. In lieu of the Alleluia during Lent, we have the verse before the Gospel as a more reflective posture. The Prophet Joel proclaims that “Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, for I am gracious and merciful:” a gentle rebuke reminding us that “even now,” and perhaps especially now, we can return to God who is eager to provide grace and mercy.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus cautions against division when he says, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” The division that we face today is the same division faced two thousand years ago. We have divided hearts, with one beat reaching for the way things used to be, and the other reaching over the edge into an unknown future. It is only through reconciliation can we mend our wounded hearts and bridge the divide.
This Jubilee Year our Holy Father, Pope Francis, offers us the power of Hope. He announced the Jubilee with a Bull entitled Spes Non Confundit — “Hope does not disappoint” — a familiar phrase taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. In this document we are reminded that “in addition to finding hope in God’s grace, we are also called to discover hope in the signs of the times that the Lord gives us…The signs of the times, which include the yearning of human hearts in need of God’s saving presence, ought to become signs of hope.”
As we journey on a pilgrimage of hope this Jubilee Year, perhaps we could reflect on the reality of division as a sign of the times. A sign that calls us to respond faithfully and to build bridges where hope can be shared. Jesus was a bridge builder. He is not asking us to lead, only to follow Him on the journey together with the poor, the outcast, and our neighbors toward a future where things are a little better for everyone. It is over the bridge together that we experience the yearning of the heart to hope as a people on a common pilgrimage back to God.
Kelley Henderson serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services in Columbus Ohio, helping vulnerable seniors, families, and persons living with disabilities in Central and Southern Ohio.