of Mother Anna Maria Cánopi osb

Beginning his Catecheses on Christian hope, Pope Francis outlined the panorama of our time in a few words. A time – he said (and one cannot help but agree) – which appears dark, «in which sometimes we feel lost in the face of the evil and violence that surround us, in the face of the pain of so many of our brothers. We also feel a little discouraged, because we find ourselves powerless and it seems to us that this darkness should never end" (7 December 2016). However, continuing he stated that the darker and more difficult times are, the more the Christian is called to offer the testimony of a "living hope", of a hope that does not waver even in the face of the greatest tragedies. How is it possible? We can hope against all hope because - the Pope stated - "God with his love walks with us".

This message of great hope runs throughout the Bible, as we are seeing, but resonates with accents of touching tenderness in the book of Isaiah, in particular in its central part, not surprisingly called the Book of Consolation (cc. 40-55).

The chosen people find themselves in a land of exile and live in a situation of profound anguish, because they are well aware of having broken with their deplorable conduct the covenant of love solemnly made with God. Israel is, in a certain way, like the prodigal son of Luke's parable or as an unfaithful wife. He fears, therefore, that divine justice looms over him implacably and reads everything as punishment, adding desolation to desolation.

But here's the unexpected. God, who would have every right to show indignation and abandon his people, intervenes in this situation with a word of hope. And the word of God is not in vain: it is always fulfilled.

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord makes his voice heard:

«Comfort, comfort my people...» (Is 40,1).

Those who oppressed him must tremble; those who feel powerful by their own strength and become domineering are destined to be reduced to dust, because man is nothing without God.

«But you, Israel, my servant,

you Jacob, whom I have chosen…,

do not fear,

because I am with you;

don't get lost,

because I am your God"

(Is 41,8-10).

And a little further on, he adds:

"Do not fear,

because I have redeemed you,

I called you by name:

You belong to me.

If you have to cross the waters, I will be with you,

the rivers will not drown you;

if you have to walk through the fire, you won't get burned,

the flame cannot burn you,

for I am the Lord your God..." (Is 43, 1-3).

Stormy waters, raging rivers and burning flames are all the trials of life: external trials and internal trials, which necessarily, sooner or later, we must go through. But nothing can harm us because – says the Lord to each of us – «you belong to me, I love you, I am your Savior. You are precious in my eyes...". It is so precious that God is willing to pay a high price for his beloved Israel, just to free it from that condition of slavery: "I give Egypt as a price for your ransom" (Is 43, 3). In reality, he gave much more: «You know that not at the price of ephemeral things, such as silver and gold, you were freed from your empty conduct, inherited from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without defects and without blemish. » (1Pt 1,18). He has come to this: he gave his own Son  to gather all the scattered children in his home and make them a true family where a single law reigns, the law of love, which springs from the very heart of God who is Love.

You belong to me, you are precious in my eyes... It would be enough to remember these words, to hear them resound in the ear of the heart to move forward into each new day with confidence and with a serene soul, without fearing anything, without letting ourselves be overcome by anguish or paralyzed by fear.

We must, therefore, know how to stop to listen, listen to welcome, remember and live what the Lord tells us. In the hour of desolation Israel - each of us, the whole of humanity - receives from God a "word" which is a gift: "I am with you". This gift opens up hope, but hope is not a vague dream for the future, it is a new energy of life for the present; it is a seed whose growth also depends on us; it is the yeast put into today's flour for a fragrant bread, for that daily bread that allows us to walk through history until eternity.

By calling us "children", God gives us the gift of what is most personal and precious to him: his Name. We must, then, become witnesses of this Name, we must allow others, just by seeing us, to be able - as in the time of the apostles - to call us "Christians" (see Acts 11, 26).

We have been chosen, called by name, filled with grace, we are continually forgiven and filled with limitless mercy. Such a great gift cannot remain closed within ourselves. Good is multiplied by giving it. "You are my witnesses" (Is 43, 12), the Lord tells us. Yes, we are witnesses of the love that God has for us. The history of humanity is this "adventure" of love of a God who seeks, awaits his children, welcomes them and welcomes them back, without ever tiring, indeed, always instilling new courage in them: "Do not be afraid, for I am with you".

The Lord assures the people in exile that he will lead them back to their homeland, to the true promised land; he will open new roads, trace paths, fill the ravines, even lower the mountains..., not to mention that, in the end, he will carry him on his shoulders like a father his child, so that he does not faint due to his weakness. Behold, Jesus truly came to look for us in a distant land, he took on us and our sins, and he still looks for us because we are always a bit in exile, far from God and far from ourselves, in a situation of internal dispersion. , of confusion, of doubt. Like the disciples of Emmaus, we advance without hope. He, then, becomes our traveling companion, makes our hearts burn with his Word and strengthens us with the Bread of life. These are the indispensable foods for the earthly pilgrimage; without them, we will run out of strength along the way; with them we will also be able to run and take care of our weakest travel companions who are most tempted to stop. The Word is given to us to illuminate our steps, the Eucharist to support our vigor and give joy to our hearts.

Then, like Mary and with Mary, we will be able to carry out our pilgrimage in faith, from stage to stage, obeying the Word that calls us, accepting the sword that pierces our hearts, living the Gospel in the humility of everyday life, remaining steadfast and praying at the many crosses where even today many innocents are sacrificed, gathering together in prayer to be a community of love, and always, always singing our Magnificat with faith, indeed, inserting ourselves into the Magnificat of Mary who accompanies us on the journey, covers us with her mantle and shines on us, as a sign of sure hope.