By Canon Philip Gillespie

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With the hour springing forward at the end of March, the days of April seem to be longer and brighter and therefore more hopeful. Despite the terrible darkness of the present situation with wars and conflicts in various parts of the world, the Liturgy will still pray as it does each year: “May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.”

 

That prayer needs to be firstly for our own lives, and then to let that ‘enlightenment’ colour and affect the way in which we live our daily lives. We are called to be ‘bearers of light’ into the events of every day – in bereavement and illness, sadness and pain, as well as the joyous moments of birth and new life, transitions and successes.

 

The theme of this Jubilee Year is that of Hope – “Peregrinantes in Spem” is the Latin text which is translated either as Pilgrims of Hope, or Pilgrims into Hope. The way in which we live our lives each day is to be guided and inspired by the hope and vision and perspective which we have on the world in which we live. It will guide our vision as to how we welcome the gift of life, how we nurture and protect the gift of life, and how we care for the gift of life in its frailty and neediness. Each and every day we have choices and decisions to make – as simple as how to greet other people, how to engage with them, how to make something ‘real and active’. This is our love and care and charity each day. How are we to make choices, what should inspire them and inform and guide them?

 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes Saint Paul in his letter to the Church in Philippi: ‘Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely. Whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.’ (Philippians 4:8) But of course, we mustn’t just think about them, but actually do them too!