In His name we will Hope

First Reading: Micah 2:1-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 10
Matthew 12:14-21

Faith, Hope and Love...the three theological virtues. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says, "The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character." Faith, hope and Love, these three virtues form the basis of which all our actions should be made. Today I would like to focus on one of these virtues...the virtue of hope. Today's gospel proclaims a great message of hope to us. As Jesus was curing all those who followed him, it says that he was fulfilling what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah. In this passage it says "In his name the Gentiles will hope." Christ is the great hope of us all, it is through him that we are saved and it is through him that we can make it to Heaven.

Hope...such a small word with such great significance. When we think about hope in terms of our faith, we have much to hope for. A place in heaven, an eternity in the presence of God worshiping Him with all the angels and the saints! Does this sound as good to you as it does to me? This is what God desires for us, he loves us so much that he wants to spend all of eternity with us, and he even sent His Son to us so that way we would have a way to get to Him. The Catechism has an exceptional definition on hope that says; "Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit..."

Where is your hope placed? Is it in earthly things, or in heavenly things?

Father above, open our hearts and our minds to your word in our lives today so that we might go and live out what is proclaimed to us today. Lord give us the strength and courage to serve you in this life so that we might be with you in the next. Lord, we pray for all those who are hurting and need you this day. Lord Jesus we ask this all through your name. Amen.