Grace and hope

In the story of Les Miserables (The Wretched), after his release from prison, Jean Valjean is invited to a bishop's residence, given a meal and a room for the night. During the night Valjean steals some of the silverware and runs away, but is caught by the gendarmes, who bring him back to the bishop with the stolen items. Instead of accusing Jean, the bishop gives him two silver candlesticks and gives the impression that he gave him the items.

Jean Valjean, hardened and cynical from a long prison sentence for stealing bread to feed his sister's children, became a different person through this act of grace from the bishop. Instead of being sent back to prison, he was able to start an honest life. Instead of living the life of a convict, he was now given hope. Isn't this the message we are supposed to bring to a world that has become dark? Paul wrote to the congregation in Thessalonica: «But he, our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal consolation and good hope through grace, may comfort your hearts and strengthen you in all that is good Work and Word »(2. Thes 2,16-17).

Who is the source of our hope? It is our Triune God who gives us eternal encouragement and good hope: «Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his great mercy, has born us again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into one imperishable and immaculate and imperishable inheritance, which is kept in heaven for you who are kept by God's power through faith for bliss, which is prepared to be revealed at the last time »(1. Petrus 1,3-5).

The apostle Peter says that through Jesus' resurrection we have a living hope. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the source of all love and grace. When we understand this, we will be greatly encouraged and given hope now and for the future. This hope, which encourages and strengthens us, leads us to respond with good words and deeds. As believers who believe that people were created in God's image, we want to make a positive impression on others in our interpersonal relationships. We want others to feel encouraged, empowered, and hopeful. Unfortunately, if we do not focus on the hope that exists in Jesus, our dealings with people can leave others feeling discouraged, unloved, devalued, and hopeless. This is something we should really think about in all of our encounters with other people.

Life is sometimes very complex and we face challenges in relationships with others, but also with ourselves. How do we, as parents who want to raise and support their children, deal with problems when they arise? How do we as an employer, supervisor or administrator deal with difficulties with an employee or employee? Do we prepare by focusing on our relationship with Christ? The truth is that our fellow human beings are loved and valued by God?

It is painful to endure negative speech, verbal abuse, unfair treatment, and hurt. Unless we focus on the wonderful truth that nothing can separate us from the love and grace of God, we can easily give in and allow the negative to drain us, leaving us discouraged and unmotivated. Thank God we have hope and can remind others of the hope that is in us and can be in them: “But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts. Be ready at all times to answer to everyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, and do so with meekness and awe, and have a good conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame when they see your good conduct to revile in Christ »(1. Petrus 3,15-16).

So what is the reason for the hope we have? It is the love and grace of God that was given to us in Jesus. That is how we live. We are the recipients of his gracious love. Through the Father Jesus Christ loves us and gives us a never-ending encouragement and a sure hope: “But He, our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal consolation and good hope through grace May he comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word »(2. Thes 2,16-17).

With the help of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we learn to understand and believe in the hope we have in Jesus. Peter exhorts us not to lose our firm hold: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory to him now and forever! " (2. Petrus 3,18).

At the end of the musical Les Miserables, Jean Valjean sings the song "Who am I?" The song contains the text: «He gave me hope when she disappeared. He gave me strength so that I could overcome ». One may wonder whether these words come from Paul's letter to the believers in Rome: "The God of hope, however, fill you with all joy and peace in faith, so that you will become ever richer in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15,13).

Because of the resurrection of Jesus and the associated message of hope for a wonderful future, it is good to reflect on Jesus' highest act of love: «He who was in divine form did not consider it a robbery to be equal to God, but emptied himself and assumed the form of a servant, was like men and recognized as man in appearance »(Philippians 2,6-7).

Jesus humbled himself to become man. He graciously graces each of us so that we may be filled with his hope. Jesus Christ is our living hope!

by Robert Regazzoli