…Christ Jesus our hope…
1 Timothy 1:1
St. Paul wrote the first of two letters to the young bishop, Timothy. He began by saying he is an apostle of Christ Jesus, who is our hope. Paul was Timothy’s spiritual mentor, and he noted how they shared a close friendship and had a mutual understanding of the importance of bringing hope to the people.
Hope is that powerful theological virtue which enables us to overcome our gloom, depression and other spiritual and emotional weaknesses. Hope lifts our spirits from dark valleys to find a warmth of sunlight and calmness.
We may be troubled by our past sinful deeds and feel we are unforgiven, unworthy and unloved by God. Then, especially we need to remember that Christ Jesus is our hope for mercy and forgiveness. In this letter Paul gives hope to all of us by saying he was a blasphemer, a notorious sinner and a persecutor of early Christians; but he was mercifully treated and forgiven. Hope gives that same assurance promised by Christ Jesus to receive a renewed inner peace.
Dear God, help us never to lose hope— never to lose Jesus—for Christ Jesus is our hope.
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This is an excerpt from A Path To Hope, by Living Faith writers. Copyright 2025 Creative Communications for the Parish. Used with permission.
