The events of the Resurrection bring hope in the knowledge that Christ is alive and he wants us to be alive too. Pope Francis in his recent Apostolic Exhortation spoke of the hope and youth that Christ brings to each of us and the entire world. We are renewed by him!
Christ is alive and he remains in us. Risen, he shows the light on his face, he is with us and never abandons. However far we may wander, he is always there to restore our strength and our hope, calling on us to return to him and to start afresh.
The Resurrection of Christ is the principle of new life for all of us and begins with conversion of heart and conscience. May this time of renewed hope enable humanity to respond to social injustices, homelessness, humanitarian crisis, and calls for freedom and peace. May he be hope for victims of on-going conflict to which we are at-risk of becoming resigned to. May the Lord of hope not find us cold and indifferent. May he make us builders of bridges, not walls.
May the Risen Lord, who flung open the doors of the tomb, open our hearts to the needs of the disadvantaged, the poor and vulnerable, the unemployed, the outcasts, and all those who knock on the door in search for bread, refuge, and acknowledgement of their human dignity.
Christ is alive! He is hope and youth for each of us and the entire world. May we let ourselves be renewed by him!
I recently read a poem which told a story of the strength and importance of hope called ‘Four Candles’. The candles represented peace, faith, love and hope. The first candle, which was peace, went out because the world was so full of violence and fighting. The second candle said “I am Faith but I am no longer needed in this world” and with that it went out. Then the third candle began to speak saying “I am love. People don’t understand my importance, so they put me aside and they even forget to love those closest to them” Love’s flame then went out too.
A child then entered the room – saw the four candles and wondered why only one was lit as they were all meant to be aflame until the end of time. The fourth candle responded “Do not be afraid, I am hope!” and while I am still burning we can re-light the other candles. The child’s eyes were shining at they picked up the candle of hope and re-lit the other candles.
The child was told the greatest of these is love but the candle of hope should never go out in your life. With hope each of us can live with peace, faith and love!
Jesus in John 8:12 said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have life filled with light and never live in the dark.”
So we pray: Jesus may we always give thanks for your light that shines in a world of darkness bringing us hope. Amen.
Susan van Zyl
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