Combative hope: The phrase seems like an oxymoron.
Pope Francis suggests that those beginning the Ignatian spiritual exercises described in his book, In Him Alone Is Our Hope, pray for the grace of a combative hope.
The Pope's book is a mere 135 pages long but after several weeks, I have not read past the third chapter. Combative hope, the phrase echoes in the periphery of the mind, long after the first reading. Then after hours or days or even weeks, we begin to understand.
It has taken me several weeks to see why Pope Francis uses a phrase that strikes me as incongruous. He does it to get my attention because he lives in an age of euphemism just like you and me; one where the meaning of words are changed on the whims of a people wanting, most of all, to be seen as nice, tolerant, accepting.
In this "post Christian" era, the word hope has devolved to a passive verb describing a weak and timid emotion. But when Pope Francis calls us to the theological virtue of hope, he understands the need for a phrase which will knock us off our pews to get our attention, to tell us that this is not the wishy-washy, tentative concept that we call hope but the theological virtue of Hope: Combative Hope.
The hope of Mary was combative, as was her memory, Pope Francis writes. I have never considered Mary to be a combatant. Only when I re-visit the events of her life and the awful loneliness pervading her earthly existence do I see why Pope Francis uses this term to describe Our Lady. Even her Magnificat is suggestive of battle:
... He has toppled the mighty from their throne and exalted the lowly...
What we begin to intuit is that the Pope is not discussing a mere word, one which can be replaced with a synonym without alteration of the meaning or even a euphemism; rather that this Combative Hope is the Word. Moreover, that these theological virtues of faith, hope and charity are not words but are each infused with the Spirit of Christ.
I think of Paul's explanation of faith: "The realization of what is hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." There again, I sense the immense power, mystery and splendor in this, the first of the theological virtues and dimly grasp the Presence suggested by these words.
Perhaps, like me, you had misunderstood the virtues to be mere words, nouns to be sure but not realizing the Person who imbues these virtues with Strength and Wisdom far beyond our meager capacities.
Perhaps, like me, you now see hope as a Person; in whom we can wage combat on our frailties; through whom we can come to Love.
Lin Wilder, DrPH is a former Hospital Director. She is a writer, on-line marketer and Partner in
LLeads and Fast MLM Leads; business to business leads companies.
Lin suggests that you check out one of her latest books at Amazon, A Search for the Sacred. http://www.amazon.com/A-Search-Sacred-ebook/dp/B007K9813M
Contact Dr. Lin at lin@linwilder.comArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Lin_Wilder
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