Spiritually Alive in 2025?

Spiritually Alive in 2025?

Wow – 2025, which has been declared by Pope Francis as the Jubilee Year of Hope, just seems perplexing looking at all the evil that has ransacked our world. If your head isn’t buried in the sand, not a day goes by where the “wickedness” never ends. That is why Pope Francis is trying to focus on “hope”. And let’s face it, we all need holy-optimism-prayerfully-engaged. But what is “hope”? Ask ten people and you will have ten different answers. But – let’s focus on you and me – what should our “HOPE” be for 2025 to be spiritually alive?

Let’s take-5, grab your bible, and read Romans 5:1-5. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Examining our current lives, do we have the hope described by Saint Paul?

·       Do we have faith in what the Catholic Church teaches?

·       Do we study and know what the Catholic Church teaches?

·       Do we profess our Catholic Faith in the sanctuary and out of the sanctuary?

·       Do we have peace with God, through Jesus Christ by going to Mass and Reconciliation?

·       When we participate in Mass, consuming the holy meal, do we humbly believe this to be the Body, Blood, Soul,                          and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ?

·       Do we live a life of joy during personal adversity?

·       Do we complain when God doesn’t answer our prayers immediately?

·       Do we blame God for our afflictions, or do we realize God has a better plan for our lives?

·       Do we offer up our crosses to poor sinners or the holy souls in purgatory?

·       Do we understand that we are pilgrims here, and this is not our home?

·       Do we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us?

Too often we have “hope” for things: successful jobs, new car, home on the lake, that promotion that comes with honor, diamond rings, designer clothing, expensive vacations – you get the picture. We believe if we get these “things” our lives will be happy and complete – totally satisfied. Yes, these bring temporary happiness, but in times, especially after six payments to the lender, the happiness will vanish.

Tangible goods do not spiritually sustain us or complete us. Temporarily they will give us joy or peace but before you know it, we are looking for something new to fill the void. As humans real hope is not for sale or something we can acquire. Hope is given to us by the Holy Spirit as scribed by Saint Paul in the letter to the Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit. Having an intimate relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirt is our source of hope, which keeps us spiritually alive! If your spiritual well has gone dry, talk to a priest or deacon and get back to the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Mass. Don’t stop there, get involved in your parish, faith community, and daily prayers. The Blessed Mother and holy saints are waiting for you. They will pray with you and for you!

This is Biblical HOPE penned by Saint Peter, our first Pope. 1 Peter 1:3-9: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls. Amen.

If we want to be Spiritually Alive in 2025 put God first and follow this holy advice given by Saint Paul: …yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me – Galatians 2:20.

 God Bless, Bobby Speers