Recently Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States of America. The theme of his visit was "Christ, our Hope." This was a prophetic call to the USA and to the world to "fix [our] eyes on Jesus" (Heb 3:1), our "Hope of glory" (Col 1:27).
So many people place their hope in better education, government programs, improved technology, a cleaner environment, a higher income, improved health, etc. Placing our hope in worldly circumstances, no matter how good, will ultimately leave us disappointed (compare Rm 5:5), for "the world as we know it is passing away" (1 Cor 7:31).
As Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed, Jesus Christ is our Hope. As Father Al Lauer, founder and longtime author of One Bread, One Body, often wrote on these pages, Jesus is our Hope, and the only Hope we need. Jesus is our Hope of finding God the Father, because no one comes to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6).
So many people are "without hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12). They need Jesus, Who is Hope incarnate. With Pope Benedict, proclaim to a hopeless world that Jesus is our Hope.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, "where there's despair in life, let me bring Hope." |
| PROMISE: | "Do not let your hearts be troubled." –Jn 14:1 |
| PRAISE: | Pope St. Pius V was pope for only six years, but was used by God as a great reformer of the Church. He established CCD classes to instruct youth. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College