This Catechetical Sunday, the Christian Formation staff introduced our Pilgrimage to Hope. See their full remarks here!
It is our hope that we will all be able to enthusiastically respond to 2 Peter 3:15, "Always be ready to give an explanation...for a reason for your hope." Our world keeps challenging us, making it difficult to hold on to hope, but our faith gives us reasons to remain hopeful. Romans 8:24-25 says, "For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance." St. Paul reminds us that walking in this world, with hope, we are saved. In the introduction to Matthew Kelly's book, "Beautiful Hope", Pope Francis encourages us to ask ourselves: "Am I walking with hope, or is my interior life static, closed? Is my heart a locked drawer or a drawer open to the hope which enables me to walk - not alone - with Jesus? Try spending some time in prayer this week reflecting upon this Scripture and the questions Pope Francis presents...
September Focus: What is Hope? How do you define Hope?
As we begin our pilgrimage, How do you define hope? What is hope? Spend some time in prayer this week reflecting upon these Scriptures:
- "For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with patience." Romans 8:24-25
- "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
- "And you shall be secure, because there is hope; you shall look around you and lied down in safety" Job 11:18