😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you. One of the Advent daily reading books I’m working through is called Becoming Pilgrims of Hope. On Sunday, it posed the question, what scripture verse reminds me of God’s promise of hope? There are so many verses that express God’s many promises of hope, but today I’m going to share with you three sets verses and three promises that immediately came to my mind.
The first set of verses holds a twofold promise for me.
John 20:19-23:
‘On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.”
And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”’
The first promise of hope this verse offers me is the hope of Christ’s continuing presence in my life. He will not abandon me or you. He will continue to remain in our lives and make His true presence known. I’ll come back to this point.
The second promise of hope this verse offers me is the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also a constant companion providing guidance and wisdom, to help enable us to use our free will to the best of our ability.
An additional supporting set of verses for the promise of the hope of Christ’s continuing presence is the institution of the Holy Eucharist. Every day at Mass, we have the opportunity to receive Christ, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity into our bodies. Like Mother Mary, who was the first living tabernacle for Christ, our bodies too become a living tabernacle for Christ, as we carry His body within us.
Luke 22:17-20:
‘Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.”
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.”’
A third sign of God’s promise of hope for me, is when Christ gave me His Mother, Mother Mary to also be my Mother. For me, and I would imagine you also, Mother Mary is a great source of peace and calm. She knows how to navigate heartbreaking and challenging experiences and she makes herself available to bring her wisdom, patience, and peace to us in our challenges.
John 19:25-27:
‘Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.’
Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Mother Mary are three incredible promises of hope.
I’m glad I was asked this question. It helped me to focus on how truly blessed I am. What scripture verse reminds you of God’s promise of hope?
Bless others and be blessed.
Shelly :0)
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#PhilWickham – Living Hope
Third Day Devotions 