To date, I am the proud great-uncle of seven great-nieces and three great-nephews. They are the smartest and most beautiful children one can imagine. The oldest, Eleen is six. The two youngest: Medard and Marlon were born earlier this year. Being so far away from these precious children is not easy. Children grow up so very quickly. Yet, despite the distance, my siblings and I want to make sure they all know their uncle Johan “from America.”
Recently, I needed to be in Rome for some business with the Vatican Museums as part of my work with the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. I gratefully took this opportunity to make a short stopover in Belgium on my way to Rome.
I had the best time visiting my siblings, their children and their grandchildren. It was all very quick, and very intense but oh so wonderful. As I entered the home of one of my brothers where his children and grandchildren had gathered, my great-niece Cleo, who is four walked up to me, introduced herself and then took me around to meet every one of her cousins. This was just one of so many grace-filled moments which filled my heart with joy and gave me a renewed sense of hope. These children have not been tainted by cynicism or distrust. Their life is a clean slate and by the grace of God they will do great things. Children are a true gift.
Today, we find ourselves in de midst of Advent, on our way to Christmas when we will celebrate the birth of a child, the Christ Child. In as much as the sight of my great-nieces and great-nephews fills me with hope and joy, the birth of this Divine Child fills us with an even deeper experience of joy and a greater sense of hope. Joy and hope are qualities we so desperately need during these darkest days of winter.
As you know, on December 24, Pope Francis will inaugurate the 2025 Year of Jubilee. Archbishop Hebda will inaugurate the Year of Jubilee in our Archdiocese on December 29, the Feast of the Holy Family. Recognizing the need for hope, Pope Francis chose as the theme for this Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope. The title of the document establishing the Year of Jubilee is Spes non Confundit or Hope Does not Disappoint. He borrowed this quote from Saint Paul (Rom 5:5) who wrote these words to the Christians in Rome to give them encouragement and hope as they were facing the danger of persecution.
Though Saint Paul wrote these words almost 2000 years ago they speak to us today. Not unlike the early Roman Christians, we too live in a world marred by peril and evil. The temptation to give into despair is very real as we are faced with injustice, divisions, wars, natural disasters, etc. It is against this background that St. Paul assures us that hope does not disappoint.
Grounded in this knowledge, Pope Francis reminds us that we are called to be pilgrims of hope even and especially in the darkest of times precisely because the hope that comes from God never disappoints. This is the message of Christmas which we are called to hold on to as we navigate the many challenges in our world, our nation, our cities and our homes: Christ is our Hope, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Christ is our Hope, always!
Blessed continuation of Advent to all Pilgrims of Hope.
Johan van Parys, PhD
Managing Director of Ministries/ Director of Liturgy & Sacred Arts