“Hey You”
What is the reason for your hope? It is not as easy a question as you might think. As Catholic Christians we might easily say that Jesus is the greatest reason for our hope because of Him, no matter what trouble we face here in this life we know that we can spend eternity in heaven. However, for many people, the troubles of this life turn us this way and that searching for peace and happiness. I know this to be true for myself. I grew up in a home that didn’t include God or faith, and as I grew into adulthood, God didn’t hold a very important place in my life. I wanted to do the “right” thing so I got married in the Church and started to raise our children in the faith, but God didn’t have an everyday and in all things place in my life. Troubles and trails happened, as they always do, and things became harder and harder to handle. It wasn’t until a few years ago, that I met some wonderful people at St. Albert’s who actually talked about their faith. They didn’t only talk about their faith in organized situations like bible study or faith sharing groups, but at lunch or during shopping trips. They didn’t talk about the faith like they were superiorly teaching me something they thought I didn’t know, but they talked about their faith like someone who had this fantastic relationship with someone wonderful. They shared with me how they prayed for small things like close parking spaces and sales on needed household goods, or big things like conversion of family or healing of serious illnesses. But most of all, they shared with me how praying and learning about their faith and trusting in God’s love and providence, helped them developed a real relationship with GOD. I saw people who even in really tough times (even thought they were sad or scared) were not without hope. God had given them a special confidence, a deep peace and I wanted that. Their sharing of faith in that personal way, prompted me to “come and see”, as Mother Theresa would say. Now, I have a “great reason for hope.” I have a personal relationship with Jesus. I also have a great love for all those who actually loved Jesus so much that they talked about him with me. Now some people would call that kind of sharing, evangelization. If that is what it is called, I hope that everyone at St. Albert’s and the whole Catholic Church start sharing or evangelizing, because I know that sharing saved my life. What is your great reason for hope?
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” 1 Peter 3:15
What is the reason for your hope? It is not as easy a question as you might think. As Catholic Christians we might easily say that Jesus is the greatest reason for our hope because of Him, no matter what trouble we face here in this life we know that we can spend eternity in heaven. However, for many people, the troubles of this life turn us this way and that searching for peace and happiness. I know this to be true for myself. I grew up in a home that didn’t include God or faith, and as I grew into adulthood, God didn’t hold a very important place in my life. I wanted to do the “right” thing so I got married in the Church and started to raise our children in the faith, but God didn’t have an everyday and in all things place in my life. Troubles and trails happened, as they always do, and things became harder and harder to handle. It wasn’t until a few years ago, that I met some wonderful people at St. Albert’s who actually talked about their faith. They didn’t only talk about their faith in organized situations like bible study or faith sharing groups, but at lunch or during shopping trips. They didn’t talk about the faith like they were superiorly teaching me something they thought I didn’t know, but they talked about their faith like someone who had this fantastic relationship with someone wonderful. They shared with me how they prayed for small things like close parking spaces and sales on needed household goods, or big things like conversion of family or healing of serious illnesses. But most of all, they shared with me how praying and learning about their faith and trusting in God’s love and providence, helped them developed a real relationship with GOD. I saw people who even in really tough times (even thought they were sad or scared) were not without hope. God had given them a special confidence, a deep peace and I wanted that. Their sharing of faith in that personal way, prompted me to “come and see”, as Mother Theresa would say. Now, I have a “great reason for hope.” I have a personal relationship with Jesus. I also have a great love for all those who actually loved Jesus so much that they talked about him with me. Now some people would call that kind of sharing, evangelization. If that is what it is called, I hope that everyone at St. Albert’s and the whole Catholic Church start sharing or evangelizing, because I know that sharing saved my life. What is your great reason for hope?
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” 1 Peter 3:15
