Hope Can Disappoint, But It is Never Lost
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Homily by Fr Stanley Antoni
Hope is fragile, and sometimes it lets us down. This is true.
For example:
When our prayers seem unanswered.
When our deepest desires remain unfulfilled.
When trust in institutions is broken.
We see this everywhere. A loved one continues to suffer despite our constant prayers. A dream career never takes off. Corruption and scandals shake our faith in governments and even the Church.
If we’re honest, we’ve all been disappointed by hope in one way or another. That is why God sends prophets.
Prophets: Restoring Hope
The prophets in the Bible don’t create hope; they revive and restore our hope in God’s promise. Their message is not always easy to accept, but through them, our hope is strengthened.
In the first reading, the Israelites’ land feels like a "barren bush," a result of political corruption, manipulation, and greed. Doesn't this sound familiar today? Jeremiah’s message is clear: if we want a better future, we must build our society on truth, unity, and service.
We need prophets like Jeremiah to rekindle our hope, to call out injustice in our world, and even in our Church. If we ignore them, we risk becoming irrelevant to a generation that seeks truth.
In the second reading, Paul speaks of the resurrection—a truth that some dismissed as meaningless. Paul, who encountered the risen Jesus, reminds us that the resurrection isn’t something we can prove like a scientific fact. It is a mystery rooted in the very person of Jesus.
Today, we live in a world that often reduces truth to what can be tested and measured. But faith is more than that. We need prophets like Paul to remind us that some of the most important realities—love, hope, and God’s presence—cannot be scientifically proven, yet they are deeply real.
Too many Christians have grown indifferent to the heart of our faith. We need to rekindle our belief in the resurrection, the promise that gives meaning to everything we do.
The Gospel calls us to declutter—not just our homes, but our hearts and lives. This doesn’t mean rejecting joy, success, or material things. Jesus was never against money, food, or recognition. But He calls us to create space for what truly matters.
We cannot declutter unless we trust Jesus’ promises:
That the poor will be provided for
The hungry will be satisfied
And the grieving will be comforted
How relevant this is today! Our lives are cluttered with distractions—endless work, digital overload, and shallow relationships. We need prophets of simplicity, people who show us the freedom, peace, and joy of focusing on what truly matters.
Hope That Endures
Hope is essential. But Christian hope is not just wishful thinking—it is rooted in a promise. And that promise is Jesus Himself.
Today, we need prophets of hope more than ever. They may be unconventional. They may challenge us. But they help us rediscover Jesus in our lives, renew our faith in times of disappointment, and inspire us to love.
May we welcome these prophets of hope. May Jesus grow within us as we celebrate this Jubilee Year of Hope.
