“Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way, he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life.”
(Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation to Young People, Christus Vivit, #1)
CALL TO PRAYER
This year’s theme, Igniting Hope, seems to suggest that hope is like a fire that we are trying to kindle in our world… A fire that provides light and warmth, but that needs our effort if it is going to reach people and make a difference. At a time when many people seem to have lost hope, we believe that the message of God’s love in Jesus can inspire people with hope, knowing that we are loved and forgiven, and that we have the ability to bring God’s transforming love into our world through our words and actions. At the start of Catholic Education Week 2020, we ask God to make us witnesses to hope… People who have that spark of hope in their hearts, and who are able to share it effectively with others.
Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
God our companion and guide, in a world of change, confusion, and turmoil, we know that Jesus lives, and by his Resurrection, he has triumphed over the forces of evil, hatred, and death. Help us to root our hope firmly in Jesus and his love for us, and to share our hope with others, so that we may look to the future with confidence. May our faith inspire us to help build a world of hope, promise, and transformation, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
SCRIPTURE:
A reading from the First Letter of St. Peter (1 Peter 1:3-4, 8-9, 21)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy, he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven for you… Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls… Through him, you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
REFLECTION
Hope in Christ gives us the strength to develop a peaceful optimism towards life. Hope in Christ gives us courage to face seemingly impossible obstacles. When facing the darkness, fear, and pain, hope in Christ teaches us that we can begin to understand and accept our imperfections and make use of the tremendous potential we possess. Perhaps the deepest insight we can acquire from opening our hearts to hope in Christ is that we are truly never alone. He is there. He is there with cancer patient, who is losing his battle; he is there with a family that has lost their son in a car accident; He is there when a young mother holds her still born baby. When there seems that there is only pain, sadness and fear; He is there, because our hope in Christ never dies, but brings us into a new life. What would world be without our hope in Christ? Famous Swiss philosopher Emil Bruner once wrote: “What oxygen is to the lungs; such is the hope to the meaning of life.” We cannot let our hope in Christ go, otherwise we will choke ourselves in this world full of darkness and confusion. (M. Lozowsky & A. Petresin)
Take a moment and pray for the people and situations that you are aware of who need hope right now.
Take a moment to thank God for the people and moments that have given you joy in these difficult times.
CLOSING PRAYER
God of every time and place, you know the struggles and challenges we face. When we are discouraged, inspire us anew, with the hope that comes from our relationship with Jesus and his risen life. Be light for us in moments of darkness and fear, and reassure us that we are your beloved children, never alone, and never abandoned. May our faith in Jesus open our eyes to a future full of goodness and wonder, full of blessings and hope. Praise and glory to you, Lord, through Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.
“In a society marked by personality cults, we are called to bear witness to Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, and to reverence him in the poor, the lowly, and the marginalized.
This Moment of Promise, 1989