Hope: A Sure Confidence in Christ
It may seem a bit odd to talk about hope during Lent as it is a time in which we are called to take an honest accounting of the state of our faith and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It can be humbling and even daunting. And yet we do not do so simply to recall the things we have done wrong or could have done better. We do it, so we can be more faithful followers of Jesus and in that, approach this season with great hope for the possibilities before us. The words of St. Paul from his letter to the Romans come to mind:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This last year has been a difficult one for many reasons. However as Paul’s beautiful words remind us, while difficult, God has been very present through the Holy Spirit, encouraging us to not lose hope but in fact to have a sure confidence that in Christ, hope is ever with us.
And this hope both encourages and propels us forward. At our annual meeting, Rev. Mark laid out four themes to help guide us for the coming year:
- Hope
- Transformation
- Trusting Jesus
- Action
Each one builds upon the other, giving us a solid foundation to embrace the many possibilities given us by the grace of God to spread the Good News through our coming together as a community and from there, moving out into the world as a joyful, healing presence. Not to deny the challenges that lay before us, but know they are not the final word.
So as we begin this sacred work, let us begin through our time with God, prayers, actions and interactions that seek out and name the hope given us in Jesus. Let us share that hope and in doing so be agents of a love so vast it is beyond our comprehension. Thanks be to God.
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