The imagery evoked by the phrase “a weary world rejoices” is what I imagine of the shepherds when the angel appears; of Mary and Joseph holding the baby Jesus after a long journey and labor in a stable; of Simeon and Anna in their old age when they recognized the baby Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem as their Messiah. Their weariness wasn’t absolved in those moments, but rather I imagine it coexisted with their joy.

Hope is a word we often hear, but it becomes real when we live it and when others share it with us. Hope is more than optimism or wishing...

I want to look directly and unflinchingly at the hatred, sorrow, greed, and even the evil in the world, and then I want to look beyond it at all the good. I want to utilize my gifts, experiences, and resources to do what I can to make systemic change, but I want to do it in a way that keeps my soul soft and full of generosity. For when I allow my heart to harden and my feelings towards others to turn callous, that is when I become ineffective and weak.

Hope has never been the easy way out. It is the harder path but a necessary one.

Hope for a better world is an anchor in a stormy world, providing surety, steadfastness, and motivation for good works.

Our ability to move forward with hope for the future affects us personally and can make a difference for our communities and our country.

Good people trying to make the world a better place are all around us sharing their light. And the light of Jesus Christ will shine through.

The Lord provides respite and access to glory amidst life’s challenges.

Remembering past blessings and positive actions inspires hope for the future.

Feelings will come and go, like clouds moving across the sky. But the Light of the World is everlasting and eternal.

What does “looking forward with an eye of faith” mean for you in your life right now?