Guidelines Sheet - Pilgrims of Hope (Feb. 24-28, 2025)

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General Theme:
Pilgrims of Hope
 
General Objective:
To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year
 
Objective of the week:
To realize the signs of hope around us.

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INTRODUCTION

Last week we were meditating on the whole Letter from CBCP to all the faithful. We will focus our reflection this week on a specific part taken from this Letter. The Bishops want to make us aware of the “SIGNS OF HOPE” in our society.
 
An excerpt from CBCP pastoral letter calling on faithful to a pilgrimage of hope in Jubilee 2025
 
“… and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God
 has been poured out into our hearts” (Romans 5:5)
 
Into the darkest and starkest space of death, Jesus Christ, our Savior entered and transformed death by his salvific love. Black Saturday triggers not only pious thoughts of sadness at the death of the Savior, but it conceals a powerful force where God’s love penetrates our suffering, our misery and death, saves and transforms us. This space of abandonment is a place where hope and new life germinate. As believers, this is our anchor and our strength. Love generates hope, because hope is in Jesus who works within and around us.
 
Love piercing through darkness reveals glimpses of hope.

• We see sparks of hope in principle-driven leaders who champion good governance.
• We see sparks of hope in the idealism of young people and responsible citizens who do not sell their idealism and patriotism.
• We see sparks of hope in the spontaneous collaboration among NGOs, civic, and religious organizations with the government in times of disasters and calamities.
• We see sparks of hope in local initiatives and efforts to empower communities for change.
• We see sparks of hope in public, religious, uniformed, and civic leaders, and ordinary laborers committed to sincere service even without recognition or reward.
• We see sparks of hope in responsible business practices that seek to protect the environment and serve the needy.
• We see sparks of hope in those who stake their reputation, even lives, to fight corruption and pursue justice.
• We see sparks of hope in the Filipino spirit of resiliency, and in those who dedicate themselves to genuine service despite being overwhelmed by their own need.

 
We sense a strong surge of hope, above all, in the feeling of uneasiness and disturbance -symptoms of an inner affliction, prodding us that something is wrong, yet at the same time urging us that something can and must be done within, among ourselves, and our institutions.”
 
This week our Guidelines Sheet Committee will transmit to all of us the “SIGNS OF HOPE” they recognize in their own environment. Can we also identify signs of hope around us?

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MONDAY
“Blessing in Disguise”

Life is a mystery. There are unfavorable circumstances that we cannot understand why these are allowed to happen when in fact God's love is overflowing for each one of us. When we answer this question in an absence of faith, we cannot comprehend. The wisdom of God is so difficult to fathom. As in Is. 55:8 "As the heavens are higher above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
 
   It was a bright Sunday morning when the two grown-up siblings were dressed up elegantly bound for the northern part of Cebu for a wedding. Suddenly, a passenger bus bumped into their car which made them both unconscious and that made the ambulance rush them to the hospital. As soon as they got conscious they could not move their body for it had bruises. One sibling had a broken leg and arm. The other sibling had broken ribs. Both of them were seriously injured. It was such a devastating incident because both of them are also breadwinners. They spent quite some time in the hospital with fastened stainless steel in their injured body. Many times they almost surrendered and thought they could not make it. What consoled them was their relatives and friends who showed them financial and moral support who at the same time gave them a surge of hope. As St. Paul says, "We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. Instead, we should all please our brothers and sisters for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith." (Rom.5:1-2) And the passage that sustained them amidst their trials, (Is. 43:1-3) "Do not be afraid, I will save you. I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trial that comes will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you."
 
   The siblings gained conviction that soon God would heal them and true enough, they are both recovering. Now they never fail to attend mass every Sunday despite disabilities just to give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and kindness. They are blessed with this unfavorable circumstance for all the more they encounter Jesus in their lives. (Ps. 145:18-19) "The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him.... He hears their cries and saves them.
 
   Though we are unworthy before the Lord, we must be willing to approach Him with humility and perseverance for He does not forsake us His children most especially in times of dire need. As St. Paul testifies his faith, (Cor. 12:9) "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.
 

• How do I perceive my challenges, are they means to receive God's grace?
• Am I giving a surge of hope for the hopeless?

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TUESDAY
“Hope is journeying with others”

A dear friend of mine has been dealing with a profound sense of stagnation and longing for something more, despite the abundant blessings in her life. She is surrounded by a loving family, holds a stable job, and lives in a beautiful home, yet an elusive yearning grows stronger with each passing day. There seems to be a deeper need or desire within her that remains unfulfilled. Her heart and mind ache for the vibrancy and hope she once felt.
 
  She confided in me about the emptiness she feels, an emptiness that her circumstances cannot fill. Often, she said she would gaze out the window, her eyes reflecting the grey clouds, and whisper, "I don't know what I'm looking for." Sensing her struggle, I encouraged her to explore her innermost desires and passions. "Why not try setting new goals and aspirations?" I suggested gently. "Sometimes, discovering what truly excites you can reignite your sense of purpose."
 
   More importantly, I urged her to reconnect with Jesus, the ultimate source of hope, comfort, and peace. "Spend more time in prayer or meditation," I gently advised. "Seek guidance and comfort from Christ. He can provide clarity and peace." I shared with her how Jesus offers a peace that surpasses all human understanding, capable of filling the deepest voids in our hearts. Even now, I continue to pray for her, hoping she finds her sense of purpose and direction through Christ and learns to be mindful and grateful. Such practices can elevate one's sense of well-being and fulfillment, renewing hope and helping one overcome emptiness and despair.
 
   In this encounter, I was reminded of a powerful promise from Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I shared this passage with my friend which I hope gives light and guidance to her.
 
   Reflecting on this encounter, I realized that truly only Christ's presence in our lives can bring unparalleled peace and hope. When we turn to Him with our worries and anxieties, He offers a peace that transcends our comprehension, guarding our hearts and minds. Through this process, I've also come to understand the importance of having someone to walk with you, to support and pray for you. I want her to know she's not alone. Together, we seek peace and renewed hope in Jesus.
 

• In moments of longing and emptiness, how can reconnecting with our innermost desires and faith guide us toward finding renewed hope and purpose?
• How can we support and uplift those around us who may be struggling with feelings of emptiness and longing and be a beacon of hope for them?

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WEDNESDAY
“Hope Overcomes Fear”

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.

   When we started our journey as a couple, we had so many goals and dreams we wished to accomplish together. And yet, as we move to pursue those goals, we have faced a lot of challenges, difficulties and expectations that at some point has brought us feelings of fear, frustration and hopelessness. But we cannot give up on loving when our journey as a couple has just begun. The rough roads of our life didn't stop us from moving closer to God, receiving him through the sacraments, and hoping that all things will come into place through His will at the right place and right time. As we enter the Lenten season, we are reminded that our life on earth is fleeting yet as we move forward in our lives, God is there with us in our struggles and victories. And so let us cling to hope and trust that whatever we might experience in life, God has a plan for us. Despite our failures, our hope in God will move us forward and onward.
 

• When I am at my lowest point, do I give in to fear and despair, or seek God for guidance? How willing am I to change for the better?
• Do I still keep in my heart the hope of God’s promise to me? In what way can I share this hope to others?

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THURSDAY
“Hope is to ask and we will receive”

Two years after I recovered from a deadly illness, my immediate family is burdened with all the financial struggles due to my prolonged hospitalization and continuous medication. I also need to stop working for a while, since it is still impossible for me to work. This has added more to our financial constraints. To make the situation worse, we as a family decided not to go back to our old house after I recovered, because it’s no longer safe for us to live there, especially for our growing child. So, we decided to look for a place to rent. We went from place to place.  We exhausted all means to find a safe place that is within our budget, but to no avail. While doing this, I remember the passage from Luke 2:7 when Mary has to give birth to Jesus in a manger because there wasn’t any room for them in the inn. It seems to us, “there is no room for us”, we become hopeless as we badly need to find a place to stay before classes start.
 
   However, in one of the dialogues we have with a missionary in our community, he assured us that God is with us and He is preparing a place for us. He told us that God will give you your very home, you do not even need to rent, because He will give you a home. Me and my husband just listened but we never really believed what he said would come true because we know our present situation, we do not have resources to build our very own house. Though half believing, we asked him to pray for us and we all agreed that we will be one in prayer with the conviction that God will grant our petition as in Mt. 7:7-8 “Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.  Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  True enough, a few months after that, we find resources to be able to build a simple house of our own (since we already have a piece of land to build it upon). Difficult as it may seem, God has provided us what we need through people he sent to us to help us with the project. As of this moment, we are living in our new house. Truly, we can always place our trust and hope on God because nothing is impossible with Him Lk 1:37.
 

• What are the “impossible situations” you have right now? Do you believe that God will make things possible when we pray?
• What is your personal experience of a “miracle” in your life? Are you compelled to share this miracle to others so they too can be given hope?

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FRIDAY
“I Put My Trust to Our God of Hope”

Recently a cousin of mine needed to be hospitalized due to cellulitis. This is a bacterial infection involving the inner layer of the skin. In his case, it is at the bottom of his foot. Since he has diabetes, the doctor ordered him to be hospitalized so that it will be cleaned well and to acquire the proper treatment. If not treated right away then his foot might be amputated. Due to lack of budget they went to a public hospital. There he cannot be attended immediately because of too many patients waiting ahead of him. Since his case needs immediate attention, he decided to go to a private hospital. As he was there, he underwent surgery to take off all the dead flesh. For it has to be cleaned thoroughly. The challenge now is the hospital bills amounting to 197,000 pesos. He and his wife considered it as a hopeless situation. For he was supposed to check out from the hospital but not enough money to pay for the bills. His family and relatives tried to help but it was not enough. When I called him by phone, my cousin shared it with me and even crying he said," I put everything in the hands of God. It is a dead end for me." Two days later from that conversation, l called again to have an update of his situation. He told me, "thank you very much for praying for me. I am already at home. God is so good. I cannot imagine his goodness, mercy, and love. Many people were helping me: NGO'S, friends, and friends of our friends. For me that was a hopeless situation. But then I realized that if we put our trust in the Lord he never fails to answer. God is my hope."
 
   Matthew 8:5-11. Trust without faith is futile. Anything we ask from God needs our total trust with great faith. Like my cousin's experience in the hospital. As he said,"I put everything in the hands of God." A total surrender in front of God with great confidence. This is what Jesus wants to see in our hearts as his disciples. That we may have full trust and to hope in his love and mercy for us with great faith. As Matthew 8:10 says, "I tell you I have never found anyone in Israel with faith like this." Our faith gives us the opportunity to savor "JOY" in the midst of our miseries. When we concretely experience God's saving power. A moment of being in heaven while we are still on earth. Matthew 8:11 says, " I assure you that many will come from the east and the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven."
  

• What are the instances of your life that your faith was tested?       
• Have you experience putting all your trust in God with strong faith? Did you experience his saving power? How?

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THE JUBILEE PRAYER

Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
 
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity
and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
 
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen