By Junno Arocho Esteves • Catholic News Service • Posted March 17, 2016

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Hope is a humble, yet powerful virtue that gives Christians peace in life’s darkest moments, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass.

“Hope is a humble virtue; that virtue which flows beneath the water of life but that keeps us from drowning in so many difficulties,” the pope said March 17 during the Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

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The pope reflected on the day’s Gospel (Jn. 8:51-59), in which Jesus tells the scribes, “Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”

Jesus’ reference to Abraham, the pope said, underlines the importance of hope in Christian life. Although Abraham experienced temptations along the way, “he believed beyond all hope.”

“When there is no human hope, there is that (supernatural) virtue that brings you forward. It is humble, simple, yet it gives you joy — at times great joy, at times only peace — but it gives you the assurance that that hope does not deceive. Hope does not deceive,” he said.

Hope is difficult to recognize and explain, he said, but it is the “thread of hope” which unites Christians and guides them forward and “gives us peace in difficult moments.”

“Hope does not deceive, it is always there: silent, humble yet strong,” he said.