HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT

This was a resounding message to me throughout the MV retreat. Coming to the retreat, I do not know what to expect. The last few weeks of 2024 have been rough on me mentally and spiritually. When we arrived at the retreat, it was nice to see familiar faces, a familiar home, and a familiar ambiance. Yet there was something different about the place. All around me was a continued chatting and catching up. We went to Mass then back to our host, then the same thing again. And the next thing I knew, we were starting the retreat. We then went on to some reading and reflections. 

HOPE. We started diving towards the word Hope and what it meant for us. A very familiar word yet it seems that I have forgotten what it really meant. The group started talking about their hopes, things to look forward to, and things that allowed them and pushed them to move forward. I listened to their sharings. In my head, I also asked myself, what was hope for me? What does it mean? And what was the hope that the Lord wanted me to see? I wasn’t sure. We then continued through the readings but my mind was occupied again with the many uncertain things that I had left before the retreat. And then we read this one part of the reading material from Pope Francis’ message during the WYD 2023 which says: “When you feel surrounded by the clouds of fear, doubt, and anxiety, and you no longer see the sun, take the path of prayer. For when no one listens to me anymore, God still listens to me” 

It was as if at that moment, the Lord decided to speak to me directly and reminded me that He awaits me and listens to my concerns. I did not know what to say but I allowed the Lord to fill me that night. He reminded me that beyond my anxieties, were the hopes that I have prayed for, to never lose sight of it, and to be assured that He will be beside me in my journey towards the goal towards heaven. How have I missed that! The many times that I felt helpless and down, the Lord continuously showed His face and assured me that everything will be okay. He has proven it to me over and over again but I lost track. And here He is again. Just like the father in the parable of
the prodigal son, waiting for me to realize that I’m still His and that we can still move forward together. 

The following morning, we got to the next set of readings and there it was, the message that He built up through the many struggles in my life: “And Hope Does Not Disappoint”. As a Catholic, there are already a lot of struggles just by being one, adding up to the personal struggles that one might face in their own family and personal life. But to Hope in God, who has created this wondrous plan for our future, means to surrender not only the dreams that we have but also the struggles and the battles that we will face so that His grand design can take place. His perfection in our submission. 

Throughout the retreat, we discussed our goals, our dreams, and our hopes. But this time around, I saw Him smiling because now I see what He has planned for a very long time. And so I will Rejoice in this Hope, for it does not disappoint.

Jericho Abiang

Mission Volunteer