Hope

Readings for Wednesday September 2, 2009

First Reading: Colossians 1:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 52
Gospel: Luke 4:38-44


We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. (Col 1:3-5)

What is it that drives you? What is it that motivates you and keeps you going in your life? For all of us there are many different motivators. For kids it may be a nice treat that they get for good behavior. For the office worker, it may be a big promotion for working hard on a project. For a mother, it may be raising good kids and having a joy filled home. For an athlete, it may be setting a world record and becoming the best. The truth it that we all have different things that motivate us in our lives and even in different situations. Now, let me also ask, what is it that motivates you in your faith life?

Saint Paul talks about what motivates the people of Colossae in their faith ... it is their hope. The people put their hope in Christ, not in things of this world, and that has given them a great faith that Paul and others admire and commend. Hope can be a powerful motivator in our lives, especially when we keep hope in our Lord and in His promise of eternal salvation. In many ways, hope is what fuels our faith, for if our hope is high, then so too will be our faith.

In today's gospel, Jesus goes around healing and spreading the good news to all, for He was sent here to give us hope, to give us something to believe in. May we all continue to put our hope in the Lord, and may it continue to fuel our faith so that we can continue to persevere and follow God in this life.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, may our hope always lie in you and not in things of this world. Lord, you are the way to eternal salvation, may we never stray away from following you in our lives. Lord, we pray for all those with addictions and who are seeking pleasure from worldly things. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.