The theme for the first week of Advent is hope. Without hope, the world would have far more depression, and many people would feel more tempted to give up. We need that promise of something good ahead to motivate us and keep us moving forward.
The opposite of hope is despair. The Apostle Judas showed us what happens when someone gives in to despair and lets it take over. Life can become difficult, and we may feel tempted to quit, but we need to keep hope alive and keep our eyes on the prize.
The other day, we were walking through a clothing store. My youngest son loves taking detours around the clothing racks instead of staying with me. At one point, I heard him call out, “Daddy, where did you go? I can’t find you.” How often do we lose our way because we decide to go off on our own? When you are small and can’t see over the clothing racks, it’s easy to get lost. We are the same way. We can’t see the whole picture. If we don’t stay close to God, we can become lost too.
Instead of giving up when we feel lost, we need to stay calm and move to a place where we can see more clearly. A lost child in a store can step into the main aisle to get a better view or ask a trusted employee for help. When we are spiritually lost, we can go to Church and seek guidance from a priest. We can also call out to our Father because He is never far away. Even though my son thought he had lost me, I knew where he was the entire time.
Many people say things like, “My sins are too great,” “I’ll never break free from this,” or “I’ve been away too long.” Do not give up. Keep returning to the Father. He waits for us with open arms. The truly lost are the ones who stop searching for the way back. No matter how hard life becomes, hold on to hope and keep your eyes on the prize.
