Saturday, December 11, 2004
Week Two, Day Seven

This is a time of darkness for many.  Yet Isaiah and Matthew inspire us to go on in our attempts to make the world new, to make the vision new, and to make ourselves new.  When it seems hopeless, new life will come!  There is hope.  Sometimes it comes from the mouths of babes….

A friend and her six-year old daughter, Lily, were attending a meeting in downtown Washington.  As they left the meeting and headed to the car, they passed a man sleeping on a sidewalk grate.  “It makes me very sad to see someone sleeping on the street,” said Lily.  “Yes, that is sad,” my friend replied. 

 As they got into the car and headed home, Lily continued. “Mommy, why did God make poor people?” “Well, Lily, God didn’t make poor people.  God made people.  And it’s up to us to take care of one another and to make sure that no one is poor.”

“Well, then we need to go back and give that man some of our money.”

“That’s a good idea, Lily, but you know that man needs more than money.”  My friend was planning to go on and tell Lily that he also needed a house, and a job and the other things that allow one to sustain oneself.

“You’re right, Mommy,” said Lily.  “That man needs love and he needs hope.”

What is hope?  We all need it.  How do we contribute to it? 

Pederico Mayor, the Spanish Director General of UNESCO, expresses it this way: