Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph
(JMJ)
Jesus Christ is the Foundation of our Hope
08 Apr 2025 - 30 Apr 2025
Christian hope is the fundamental aspect of the Christian experience, providing a vital connection between earthly existence and the heavenly realm throughout one’s journey from earth to heaven. Christian hope for the salvation of the whole person (body and soul) is in the resurrection of Christ. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3). The spirit of Easter which is the culmination of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection is the spirit of hope. In the face of misfortune, temptation, and suffering, may we always remember to carry that hope in our hearts, letting it guide our steps towards renewal and rebirth in the Lord.
Rev. Fr. Mathias Wolff highlights this aspect of HOPE in his teachings to the sisters of the congregation (JMJ) he founded. Some excerpts from one of these Overwegingen are presented here, which might help us grow as joyful pilgrims of hope. Overwegingen XXI is titled “Jesus Christ is the Foundation of our Hope.”
In the desert the chosen people saw a cloud by day, which preceded and showed the way, and a column of fire by night; these two things were images of the Redeemer: the column of fire was an image of His Godhead, and the cloud an image of His humanity; for His humanity covered His Godhead as a cloud, and now both are covered in the form of wine and bread in the Blessed Sacrament. Happy were the people of Israel with such a signpost, protecting them from all their enemies. But how much greater is my happiness when I receive (in the holy communion) the Lord of heaven and earth, who is my constant guide and signpost!
Jesus Christ is the foundation of our hope, which is why He came to this earth and has suffered so much to ensure our salvation if only we would cooperate with his grace. He shows especially in the Blessed Sacrament how much He desires our salvation, giving Himself personally and substantially to us; He is there with us, and desires to hear from us that we surrender ourselves entirely to His control.
How often have I closed my eyes and taken a different path, walking blind and without a guide, driven by my unruly desires and by the promptings of the evil spirit; but now I will fix my eyes on Jesus alone as on a pillar of fire and follow Him faithfully in everything. Oh yes, my dearest Jesus, I give myself completely to You, receive my memory, my mind, and above all my will; I want what You want in all circumstances.
“The pagans may exhibit traces of a flawed hope, and the Jews may cherish a futurist hope, but Christians, by contrast, have a better hope (in the resurrection of Jesus) through which we draw near to God.” (Heb 7:19).
Image Source: Resurrection (Rubens, Antwerp) - Wikipedia
