Burning Hope

 

Lenten Reflection #17

 

“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” – Psalm 33:20

 

A couple of days ago, I heard the phrase “burned by hope” for the first time. The term was new to me, but the meaning was familiar. You start with so much hope for your plans and your dreams only to be disappointed, frustrated and depressed when they don’t happen or don’t happen when you want them to. You end up not wanting to hope in anything anymore. My heart bled for those who have been burned by hope, me included.

 

Then it bled some more for Little James in my to-watch Jesus story yesterday. In The Chosen, he is portrayed by Jordan Walker Ross who is handicapped in real life. His having a limp was woven into the story including the fact that complete healing cannot happen. When Jesus sent the apostles two by two with the ability to heal the sick and lame, Little James wrestled with his emotions – anger, bitterness, resentment. Jesus had not healed him, but he was being asked to heal others.  

 

Jesus answered: “But think of the story that you have, especially in this journey to come if I don’t heal you, to know how to proclaim that you still praise God in spite of this; to know how to focus on all that matters so much more than the body; to show people that you can be patient with your suffering here on earth because you know you’ll spend eternity with no suffering…So many people need healing in order to believe in me, that doesn’t apply to you. MANY ARE HEALED OR NOT HEALED BECAUSE THE FATHER IN HEAVEN HAS A PLAN FOR THEM WHICH MAY BE A MYSTERY…when you discover yourself finding true strength because of your weakness and when you do great things in my name in spite of this, the impact will last for generations.”

 

That made quite an impact as many viewers who have not been healed and whose prayers have not been answered saw themselves in that scene.  

 

In the Aftershow, Jordan explained how he connected to Little James: “I’m a big believer that if anyone has anything they perceive as a weakness can find a way to use that as a strength and use it to inspire or uplift other people…it helped me to be more loving and accepting of who I am.”

 

But dashed hopes need not burn us. This morning, as I listened to the talks in Rise, The Feast Alabang’s Holy Week Recollection, my hope for the hopeless was rekindled and kept burning by these:

1.   1. The winds of adversity cannot break us if we bend like the palm tree.

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree” – Psalm 92:12

2.   2. Just say “Yes” to Jesus. His grace will be enough to change your situation.

3.   3. We may not be in control of our situation, but we have a God who is.

 

And as we sang “Even Now” during worship, unbidden tears of hope and supplication trickled down to my face mask as I sent a mental hug to all those who have been burned by hope and to the Little Jameses of this world.

 

Even now when my hope is gone
Even now when there seems no way
Lord, I know You can do all things
You can roll the stone away
Raise me even on the fourth day…

 

References:      The Chosen Season 3 Episode 2 – “Two by Two”

                        The Chosen Aftershow S3 E2

                        Rise, The Feast Alabang’s Holy Week Recollection

                        “Even Now” by Veia Lim Viñas & Vernon Lim for Feast Worship