What is the difference between wishing and hoping?

In today’s gospel we hear that John the Baptist came to a people who merely wished that the Messiah might come. They were wishing for the expected messiah who would create a kingdom where the lamb might indeed lie down with the lion. But, as the old saying goes, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. You see they weren't doing anything about that dream. They were leaving it into the hands of the one who was coming. The messiah would bring peace. The messiah would bring hope. The messiah would bring love from on high. And John the Baptist told them that wasn’t enough. He called them to repent and reform. He told them that they can't be satisfied with doing nothing. "God can raise up children of Abraham from these stones, " he said. Wishing becomes hope when human activity gets involved. Wishing becomes hope when have the good sense to work for the things we pray for, as St. Augustine says.

Wishing is also different from hoping, because hoping cooperates with an agency beyond us. It buys into the dream, it sees the vision that is there for us beyond our own small worldview. Hoping is wishing that is grounded in faith. You and I know that world peace is beyond the scope of your or my efforts. People who merely ‘Wish’ would stop at wishing for peace. Hoping says that what I contribute, the peace that I live in my heart brings the world just a bit closer to THAT day when the promise will reach fulfillment. Because we trust in God and believe in his promise, we take the steps that are necessary to make the dream a reality. Hoping believes that what is promised - the vision, the dream, the revelation – is already somehow present in beginning form.

So, Advent is much more than making believe that Jesus is going to be born again in Bethlehem. Advent is the season of taking action so that we can attain our hope. Our hope is not just that we all have a pleasant and even a spiritual Christmas. Our hope is far deeper than that. Our hope is that we will join Jesus Christ in the transformation of the world when he comes at the end of time. Hope demands action.

As a way to pray into this advent hope of ours, I invite you to sit down with the scripture passage we heard from Isaiah and make it very real for yourself. (in the quiet, undisturbed – if such a place exists in your house…) Where is that vision already a reality in your life? Perhaps it is the lifeless stump of grieving, that has weighed so heavily that seems now to have at least the beginning of a shoot of peace. Name that truth. Who are the enemies you need to forgive, what is the counsel and wisdom you need, what is the justice that you are called to work for?

To our alums – you can remember the time of your life when you were like the students who are sharing the pews with you. You know that what began at the Newman center in terms of your faith was more than wishing – or else you wouldn’t be here. Thanks for the witness of your lives – for all the ways you worked to make your hopes become a reality. And thanks for continuing that process by your support of the Newman Center. What a blessing you are. You are continuing to make wishing become hoping for the kingdom. I know because I have seen it. When 15 students gather on a Friday evening for prayer and reflection instead of heading OUT – then wishing has become hoping.

We wish for a lot of things this Christmas. If wishing is ever to become a thing of hope, then I know that I have to move beyond wishful thinking into a trust that takes action. “Lord God, move in our hearts with your vision. May the dream of Isaiah, the hope of St. Paul, and the preaching of John the Baptist help us to an advent people of hope. And with St. Augustine, may we have the good sense to work toward the things we pray for. Amen.”