December 3 — Feast of Saint Francis Xavier
A few years ago, my husband and I were driving from Missouri to my hometown in Michigan for Christmas. Due to an impending blizzard, we chose to drive ten hours through the night in hopes of beating the storm, but unexpected traffic delays found us still 100 miles from our destination as the snow began falling. The last leg of our journey required traversing unplowed, two-lane country roads in the dark. By 6:00 a.m., the sun had not yet risen when we slowly approached my childhood home and saw my dad outside, shoveling the driveway for us as my mom prepared a hot breakfast inside.
The hope of reaching our destination kept us going on our journey. Likewise, Isaiah 25 tells us that those who hope in God will one day feast on rich foods and choice wines, just like warm pancakes and hot coffee! A difficult journey is not the last chapter. Even in our darkness, God is actively preparing a good place for us, and the Good Shepherd guides us along the way.
Laura Rakestraw, MHM
Mission & Formation Project Manager
Mercy
Pause
How do you hold onto hope amid life’s dark and treacherous paths? Make a choice to place your trust in God, who gently leads you home.
Pray
God, who is hope, shine Your light in our darkness so that we may continue to build Your kingdom. Let us be reflections of Your brilliance, always working to make Your goodness known. In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.