19th Sunday (Heb 11:1-2, 8-10) “Hoping Against Hope”
On January 1st of this year Pope Francis began what is known as the Jubilee year by opening the holy door to St. Peter’s Basilica. The door is open every 25 years. The concept of the Jubilee year comes to us from the Old Testament. Every fiftieth year would be a year to begin again. Debts would be forgiven. People would return to the land where they grew up. The concept is rich. Everyone had a chance to experience redemption. And that is the best thing about our Christian faith. We believe that even if we commit grievous sin in life we can start over. And that is what makes Christians a hope filled people. The Jubilee Year’s theme is one word…. Hope.
When we reflect on the virtue of hope our thoughts could immediately turn to the second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”
The writer of Hebrews starts with that statement. From there he gives example after example of Biblical figures who lived with a sense of faith, individuals who built their life on hope. And these patriarchs and matriarchs followed the direction of the Spirit in their lives, not expecting to see the result of their endeavors.
Abraham and Sarah left their homeland when they were elderly. God called them to be the parents of a great nation. The Lord told this couple that one day their descendants would be everywhere. Jews, Christians and Muslims all point to this couple as our ancestors in the faith. In no way could Abraham and Sarah have foreseen how they would be revered today. At times they doubted it could happen, but they did what God asked knowing they would not see the result.
If we look at the full text of Hebrews, we see how Jacob trusted in the promise of the Lord. He traveled into Egypt to preserve the nation of Israel. Moses trusted in the promises of the Lord to Abraham when he led the chosen people out of Egypt back to the promised land. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel all trusted that the people of God would continue their march through time. None of them saw the promise to Abraham fulfilled, but all of them trusted what God had guaranteed would come to pass. All these people are examples of what it means to live in hope.
If we want to point to a modern example of the Biblical virtue of hope, we might point to Antoni Gaudi. He was an architect. His cause for sainthood was introduced a few years ago. Who was this man? Why is he considered holy?
Antoni Gaudi was born in Reus, Spain in 1852. As a young man he studied multiple disciplines. He also had numerous illnesses. Eventually, he settled on a career in architecture. He received a degree from the Barcelona Architecture School. He was brilliant in some of his classes. He almost flunked others. The head of the school said to his colleagues after Gaudi received his decree, “We are giving a degree to either a fool or a genius.” Gaudi combined the styles of nouveau, neo-gothic and modernism. He had several successful projects. His illnesses, financial struggles, and emotional difficulties continued in life. He never married.
In 1915 he was given charge of the construction of a basilica in Barcelona. The basilica was to be called “Sagrada Familia” the church of the Holy Family. He worked on this project for the rest of his life. Fundraising was a problem. He dealt with criticism about the church’s modernist design. He was told his vision was too grand. Gaudi was consumed by his work. He wore the same clothes day after day. He lived in his studio. In 1926 he was hit by a car near the basilica. People assumed he was a vagrant because of his appearance and he died when no one gave him much medical attention. The church project was in jeopardy. But next year the basilica will be complete.
Gaudi knew when he started, he would never see the completion of the church. When people questioned him about this he would say, “My client (God) is in no hurry. There is no reason to regret that I won’t finish.” Gaudi left behind models of his vision. Others took up the work. Now it will be completed. Gaudi is an example of how hope is exercised. A miracle will have happened when the church is consecrated.
In this year of hope, we are asked to live like Abraham. We are asked to live with the trust that Antoni Gaudi did. We can’t see what will happen beyond our lifetimes, yet we are to continue to build the Kingdom of Jesus. One day everything will be made new.