Vol. 9, No. 1, January, 2004

From the Editor
Sr. Jan Nattermann, S.N.C.

"Christian hope is not a whimpy, 'maybe things will turn out okay.' It is a confident expectation that wherever you turn, whatever your problem, God will be there. Not always with an answer, but always with a presence, a strength, a courage out of this world", once said Walter Burghardt, S.J. Hope provides dynamism and strength for the race "forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13).

As we strain ahead into this new year of 2004 we are confident because "on him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again" (2 Cor. 1:10). We are confident because "hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). We are confident because we are more than conquerors in whatever comes our way: "I am certain of this that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).

God's word gives hope that awakens new hopes. Here are a few more passages that stir up hope within:

Hebrews 11:1
Romans 7:24-25
Ephesians 4:4
Hebrews 6:18-20
1 Peter 3:15

The object of hope is made real through faith as we read in chapter 11 of Hebrews. It enables the Christian to give an account of his hope to anyone who asks. God can accomplish the impossible! It is this hope, this good news that we can boast of to others because we have experienced Him being our hope.