April 1, 2025 – Day Twenty-Two
Let us not rob others of hope; let us become bearers of hope!
~ Pope Francis
Ponder:
Can I find someone today who needs to hear a message of hope? Can I share it with joy?
Pray:
God of hope, keep hope alive within me!
Reflection from Pam Dixon:
How does hope now link to community, relationship, and sharing? If we live our lives filled with hope, we become beacons of joy, peace, love, and connection. Hope compels us to look for small or big ways to affect our community and share a better vision for what the world could be. We are sharing hope, faith and love to those who may be hopeless, faithless or feel unloved. To share hope is to build relationships with the people around us. By reaching out and sharing our hope, it helps to foster the seeds of hope within others. It shows that they have value, that we want them to see there is more for them and that things can get better, that they are seen and loved. Shared hope builds community and connection, and ultimately, joy. What does sharing hope look like? Hope can be putting an extra item in the food bank donation box; smiling at the bus driver; starting a conversation with a colleague who seems lonely; noticing a neighbour needing a hand; writing a letter to connect to a family member/friend; and even picking garbage in the park. You are taking a step to make your life, your neighbourhood, your parish, your workplace, a little bit better than before. You are showing others what the future can be; giving them hope. And the best thing about hope is that you can always have more. Once you have or find hope, it is unlimited.
May you see hope daily in your life this Lenten journey.
Excerpts used with permission from Twenty-Third Publications.