In his catechesis at the general audience on Wednesday morning, December 11, 2024, the Holy Father said that the Holy Spirit is the source that keeps hope alive, the sail that carries the boat of the Church out into the sea of ​​history. His presence in our lives helps us not only to have hope but also to spread hope, bringing hope to humanity that is in great need of it. He invited the faithful to be witnesses of a hope that does not disappoint!

The catechesis at the general audience on Wednesday morning, December 11, 2024, was the final reflection in the series of catecheses on the Holy Spirit and the Church. The Holy Father devoted his reflection to the theme of Christian hope, which is also the theme of the entire series of catecheses on the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Father said that hope is not a passive virtue, limited to waiting for things to happen; but an active virtue, because the Holy Spirit pushes us to achieve what we desire. He invited believers to give reasons for living hope, gently and respectfully. Because it is not the strength of arguments that will convince people, but the love with which we put them. This is the first and most effective form of evangelization. 

As usual, the audience began with a biblical passage from the book of Revelation (22:17.20):

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” Let him who hears say, “Come!” Let him who is thirsty come; and let him who wishes take the water of life without price. […] He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

And then the Holy Father began his catechesis as follows:

Dear brothers and sisters, hello!

“Marana tha!”

We have come to the end of the series of catecheses on the Holy Spirit and the Church. Let us dedicate this final reflection to the title we have given to the entire cycle of catecheses – “ The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the People of God to Jesus, our hope ”. This title refers to one of the last verses of the Bible, in the Book of Revelation, where it is written: “The Spirit and the Bride say: ‘Come!’” (Rev 22:17). To whom is this appeal addressed? To the risen Christ. Indeed, both Saint Paul (cf. 1 Cor 16:22) and the  Didache , a writing of the apostolic period, attest that in the liturgical meetings of the first Christians the Aramaic cry “Maràna tha ! ”, that is, “Come, Lord!”, resounded. An invocation to Christ’s coming.

The Church awaits the coming of the Lord

In that ancient time, the invocation had a context that we would call eschatological today. In fact, it expressed the fervent longing for the Lord’s coming. This cry and the expectation it expressed have never ceased in the Church. Even today, in the Mass, immediately after the consecration, the Church proclaims the death and resurrection of Christ “ until he comes .” The Church awaits the Lord’s coming.

But the expectation of  Christ’s final coming  is no longer just a one-time and unique expectation. It is also joined to the expectation of his continuing coming in the pilgrim and present situation of the Church. And the Church, above all, thinks of this coming when, inspired by the Holy Spirit, she cries out to Jesus: “Come!”

“Come, Holy Spirit”

There has been a significant change – or rather a development – ​​in relation to the invocation “Come!”, “Come, Lord!”. This cry is often directed not only to Christ, but also to the Holy Spirit himself! The one who cries out is now also the One to whom we call. “Come!” is the invocation that begins most of the Church’s hymns and prayers addressed to the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit,” we say in the  Veni Creator, and “ Veni  Sancte Spiritus”  in the Pentecost Sequence; and also in many other prayers. And this is so, because, after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit is truly the “ other being ” of Christ, who replaces him, makes him present and active in the Church. It is He who “predicts the things that are to come” (cf. Jn 16:13) and makes them the things the Church desires and awaits. This is why Christ and the Holy Spirit are inseparable, even in the economy of salvation.

The Holy Spirit is the source of hope for Christians.

The Holy Spirit is the ever-flowing source of hope for Christians. Saint Paul left us these precious words: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom 15:13). If the Church is a boat, the Holy Spirit is the sail that propels it and carries it forward in the sea of ​​history, today as in the past!

Hope is a certainty, based on God’s faithful promise.

Hope is not an empty word, or our vague wish that things will turn out for the best. Hope is a certainty, because it is based on God’s faithfulness to his promises. This is why hope is called a theological virtue: because it is given by God and has God as its guarantee. It is not a passive virtue, waiting for things to happen. It is a very active virtue, which will help to bring them about. A fighter for the liberation of the poor wrote these words: “The Holy Spirit is the source of the cry of the poor. It is the strength given to those who have no strength. He leads the struggle for liberation and the full fulfillment of oppressed peoples” [1] .

Hope is the most beautiful gift the Church can give to humanity.

Christians cannot be content with “ having”  hope; they must also “ radiate”  hope, be sowers of hope. This is the most beautiful gift the Church can offer to all humanity, especially in times when everything seems to urge us to lower our sails.

Love is the first and most effective form of evangelization.

The Apostle Peter exhorted the first Christians with these words: “In your hearts, revere Christ as king. Always be prepared to make an explanation to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you.” But he added this exhortation: “Above all, do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Pt 3:15-16). Yes, because it is not the power of our arguments that will convince people, but the love with which we will do so. This is the first and most effective form of evangelization. And it is open to everyone!

Dear brothers and sisters, may the Holy Spirit always help us to “abound in hope through the Holy Spirit”! Thank you!

[1]  J. Comblin,  The Holy Spirit and Liberation , Assisi 1989, 236.

Source: Vatican News