A Word of Hope
Since 2018, I have worked with the Jesuits living and working in Myanmar, a nation marked by decades of deep struggles and pain. The people there continue to endure trials that challenge the very essence of human dignity.
Yet, hope remains, even in the darkest of times. My colleagues and friends in Myanmar could not continue their work without hope.
Since the illegal coup of 2021, and the conflict and oppression that has followed, Myanmar’s people are in a struggle to regain their rights, their freedom and their democracy. They can believe in a brighter future because they have not lost hope. Amid suffering, uncertainty and loss, hope stands as a beacon of light.
A Journey of Hope
The Jesuits in Myanmar stand together with the poor, the outcast and the marginalised. Each day they walk on a journey of hope. Every act of kindness, every meal shared, every hand extended to the suffering is a step forward on this sacred path.
The Jesuits, and those who work alongside them, whether delivering food, building shelters or providing education – manage to believe in change, even when change seems impossible. This journey is not easy; it is often met with obstacles, heartbreak and moments of despair.
Signs of Hope
Yet hope is alive in the people of Myanmar. Hope sustains the teenagers who receive an education in refugee camps. Hope gives strength to the mothers who clean streets, sew garments and labour on farms to earn enough to feed their children a bowl of rice.
Hope gives courage to communities that rebuild bombed houses, refusing to surrender to evil. Hope is in the silent prayers of millions.
Witnessing the miracle of hope in my friends and colleagues in Myanmar calls me to action. If there can be hope in such darkness, I too must believe that change will come.
Appeals for Hope
Myanmar cries out for compassion and solidarity. The calls of the displaced, the wounded, the grieving and the oppressed remind us that we are brothers and sisters.
Every plea is an invitation to stand together, to listen, and to act. We are called not only to acknowledge these cries but to become part of the answer—offering relief, advocacy, and unwavering support to those in need.
Anchored in Hope
Pope Francis visited Myanmar in 2017. In a Mass for the youth, he acknowledged how hard it is to talk about the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel when injustice, poverty and misery are all around us. Yet, he told them,
‘You must be messengers of hope in Myanmar, unafraid to believe in God’s mercy and show solidarity with your suffering sisters and brothers’.
The Jesuits and the young people they work alongside continue to be messengers of hope. In Myanmar and beyond, being anchored in hope means choosing love over fear, courage over despair, and action over complacency. It reminds us that the struggle for peace and justice is not in vain, and that in time, healing and renewal will come.
Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:1-2.5).
Imaginative Contemplation
Having read Gill’s reflection, close your eyes. Become aware of God’s presence. Take a few minutes to imagine the lives of the people in Myanmar.
What is it like to live in the context of a civil war, seeing death, being forced to move to try to find some safe haven. What are the hopes and desires of the people, their fears and daily struggles.
Ignatius invites us to see the world as God sees it. As God looks upon the people of Myanmar what does He see? What is God’s desire for his people?
Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism.
Peace is generosity.
It is right and it is duty.
– St Oscar Romero