Hope springs eternal
Romans 5.1-11
I recently renewed
by broadband package
and in the process
decided to read
the small print.
Of course,
it meant little to me
as it was a mixture of
gobbledygook;
legal-ese
and contract speak.
So much so
that the famous Marx brothers
sketch came to mind.
You might remember it.
It’s when they are discussing
a contract a
and they start off
by read the document –
the first clause was
the first part will be known
as the first part
—– and so it went on.
Well I have to say
sometimes reading Pau
can feel like reading
a legal document
generated
in the bowels of the EU.
Since his pen produces
dense texts
that needs careful reading.
In fact,
like most theology,
we need to read it
three times
before sense
starts to appear.
Today I won’t foist
two further readings
on you.
So if you will allow
I will lead your eye
and ear
to what I,
at least,
think is important.
In essence,
let me bring a hope of understanding
even
an understanding of hope.
Now hope
is a very interesting word.
So much so,
that it features
in many
of our well known sayings.
Take the adages –
hope against hope,
living in hope,
hope springs eternal
or there is always hope.
Yet each of these clichés
has a negative connotation.
In fact, they are used
when hope
is really
not much of an option.
When indeed hope
is hardly even a chink of light
in a bad situation.
And that is why Pau
l is so very valuable.
Because he suggests that,
bleak as
apparently impossible situations are,
they not hopeless.
Instead they are the roots
of perseverance and character.
These qualities
in turn
germinate into hope.
Put bluntly, hope
comes from adversity
rather despite it.
Maybe that is the meaning
of a less well known saying –
where flowers bloom
so does hope.
Yet despite saying all that,
it still seems
that to blunder
into someone else’s
desperate moment
prattling about hope
is at best offering another cliché.
To offer
that tribulations
are a great road to character
is no less than crass.
To counsel that awful circumstances
are good for perseverance
can be utterly insensitive.
And it is for that reason
we need to read on
in Paul.
Since it is then
he adds the essential ingredient.
He introduces
the factor X t
hat turns wistful
even forlorn hope
into genuine expectation.
In truth, he gives the way
to turning platitudinous waffle
into real comfort.
Because he then points out
that the veritable soil
that allows
the painfully won
seeds of character
and perseverance
to blossom into hope
is faith.
To him, faith is seeing
in Christ’s selfless sacrifice
the unrestrained love of God;
a love that defies hopelessness.
To him, faith that Christ died
and rose
is proof that the impossible
is most likely for God.
Moreover, to him faith
is knowing
we can always to tap
into a greater glory.
Because it is the phrase
‘hope in the glory of God’
that gives us
not just an aimless hope
but a focus
what we can hope for.
Since we cannot hope
to avoid trying times
nor can we hope
to escape tests
that build character and persistence.
But we can hope
wholehearted
that through faith
we have a new purpose
and value;
that through faith
we have a refreshing
and everlasting destiny
and that through faith
our life’s meaning
will be eternally fulfilled.
Or as David Odunaiya wrote:
“Faith and hope
work hand in hand,
however while hope
focuses on the future,
faith focuses on the now.”
All of this is summed up
in a story told
by Linda Ellis.
Hope Stout
was a twelve-year old girl
who was offered
a “wish”
in early December 200
by the “Make-A-Wish” Foundation
after being informed
that she had a rare type
of bone cancer.
However, when she found out
that more than 150 children
in her area
were waiting for their wishes
to be granted,
she unselfishly used her wish
to ask that those children
have their wishes fulfilled.
She also asked
that it be done
by January 2004.
Unfortunately, however,
the organization informed her
that her noble request
could not be granted
as the funds
were simply unavailable.
They calculated that
they would need to rise
more than one million US dollars
in thirty days in order
to grant her wish.
Disappointed,
but not discouraged,
she turned her dismay
into an enthusiasm
that inspired caring individual
s to spearhead fundraising
to help grant the wishes
of the other children,
and eventually hers as well.
Newspaper columnists
and reporters
for radio and TV stations
shared the story
of this caring young girl
who had touched
the hearts
of so many
and as word spread,
the community was challenged.
Committees were formed
and schools, corporations
and various organizations
assisted in raising money
to help bring Hope’s dream to fruition.
Though she lost her battle in 2004,
knowing that her wish
was going to come true,
Hope lives on.
Her heartfelt efforts
were not in vain
as they continue to help others,
not only physically,
but spiritually
and emotionally as well.
At the initial fundraiser
and gathering
to celebrate her life,
“A Celebration of Hope”
In 2004,
the announcement was made
that they had
indeed
received donations
totaling more
than one million dollars
on behalf of Hope Stout.
Her wish had been granted!
Well I truly pray
you are not facing
the trails of young Hope Stout.
But other tests
seem to be in our paths
individually,
as a congregation
and as a nation.
In fact, there is much
to try us
each and every day.
Yet with hope
we will grow
in character and persistence.
With hope
we will be certain
that we will not just prevail
but achieve God’s purpose
as well.
Indeed, with hope,
we will know our new direction
in Christ
is toward eternal glory
and victory.
All we need do is
to have faith now.
Since as Paul’s great guarantee reminds –
faith is the assurance
of things hoped for
and the conviction
of things not seen.
Amen