Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Jonathan Letada SVD – Catholic Trade Manila
Saturday 1st Week in Ordinary Time
What gave you hope today?
I was struck by this question posted in the newsfeed of my Facebook account.
I want to start my reflection using this question. But instead of using the word ‘what’, allow me to replace it with ‘who’: Who gave you hope today?
Levi, the tax collector, found hope in the person of Jesus.
The Gospel narrates the encounter of Levi with Jesus at the customs post, where he was working, busy attending to his clients paying their taxes. Jesus meets him where he spends most of his time. Jesus encounters him in the place where he lost his name, dignity, and relationship with his community. That encounter brings him hope for conversion and commitment to follow Jesus’ leading for him to a greater life.
God’s forgiving love is the source of our hope. It is the forgiveness of God that leads us to be hopeful amidst our sinfulness. This is the very purpose why Jesus was very close to sinners during his time. He liked to bring the message of hope to those who lived in despair because of their sins. God is faithful in loving us sinners.
God does not get tired of forgiving us. There is a God whose love is unconditional. In his book, An Easter People, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle wrote, “Forgiveness is an act of hope in God to work wonders in the person. To forgive is to able to say, ‘God’s mercy and compassion is more powerful than all your failings and I have hope in God’s mercy and compassion. ‘”
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