I’d like to share a poem with you, written by Emily Dickenson...
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
HOPE! One of the highest attributes of which human beings are capable. With Faith and Charity, one of the greatest virtues. When you have hope that is alive you can withstand and even flourish in the face of adversity. We need hope now to pass through the challenges that now face us. Yet it must a real hope that truly guides us. Emily Dickenson knew what that hope is as she wrote this poem. Her poetry is profoundly Christian, even touching the mystical at times. OUR TRUE HOPE: THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WHO IS ONE WITH THE FATHER. He calls his sheep by name. He guides them and he will guide them now. HE WOULD GUIDE THE WHOLE WORLD NOW IF ONLY WE WOULD LET HIM LEAD UON PATHS OF SOLIDARITY AND SELFLESS LOVE.
He says His sheep hear his voice. He knows them and they follow him. How do we do that: to HEAR HIM, TO KNOW HIM, TO FOLLOW HIM? That’s PRAYER! Of course when we pray share our petitions with the Lord, we lift up people we love and their needs. We can do that in prayer because of this relationship of love we live with the Lord… Prayer in its profound sense is this encounter with the Lord! How do we go deeper, how do we hear him more and more clearly?
That’s what the Rosary is for! Mary, the human person who knows Jesus best wants to help us know and love Jesus. For this reason Our Holy Father Pope Francis is calling families to take up prayer of the Rosary during this month of May.
Let our hope be deep and firm!
Pray the Rosary to hear the Good Shepherd and follow HIM now.
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Father Jim's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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To view Rosary prayer and Mass streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EDT, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
