WOF 469: 5 Reasons to Be Hopeful in the New Year

One of the defining features of the Christian moral and spiritual life is the supernatural virtue of hope. What is hope? What makes hope more than a mere superstition? How does hope help us live both individually and in community? Can hope have negative consequences, like motivating people to remain passive in the face of injustice? And what, if any, evangelical significance does hope have? Bishop Barron gives us five reasons why we should be hopeful in the new year.

A listener asks how he can find the strength to pray again.

00:00 | Intro
01:14 | Bishop Barron’s 2024 highlights
02:47 | The Christian concept of hope
04:15 | Hope’s relationship to reason
05:12 | Hope’s practical value in life
06:24 | Distinguishing hope from faith
08:27 | Distinguishing hope from optimism
10:21 | Responding to critiques of hope
15:37 | Reason 1: Bible sales increase while “nones” appear to have peaked
19:53 | Reason 2: Woke ideology is losing its grip on the culture
23:27 | Reason 3: Protestants and Catholics have increased cooperation
25:36 | Reason 4: The public response to the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral
30:01 | Reason 5: The Church continues to grow
31:27 | Listener question
33:53 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Article on Bible sales: https://www.foxnews.com/media/bible-sales-surge-thanks-fresh-editions-new-buyers-looking-things-feel-more-solid-report-finds
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

---

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}