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  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 40 – Hope Makes Our Lives Complete

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 40 – Hope Makes Our Lives Complete
    2025/04/18
    You may recall that a scribe once asked Jesus, of all the commandments, which was the greatest. Jesus replied: “The first is: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30–31) This is the greatest goal and meaning of our lives. In fact, at the Final Judgment, we will be judged according to the standard of “love”. Therefore, we should strive to increase our capacity to love and make that the primary goal of our lives.Hopefully, through this retreat, we have come to realize that aside from God Himself, what we most need is sufficient hope to fuel our love! Love is not just a fleeting impulse; it requires time, patience, sacrifice, and perseverance. It is not something that a person without hope can achieve. Thus, to fulfill the meaning of life by loving God and others, we must become people of hope. Hope plays a vital role in this mission.Our "hope index" is influenced by many internal and external factors, especially in today’s unpredictable world, where the external environment can easily affect our emotions and are difficult for us to control. When our understanding, perspectives, attitudes, and worldview are skewed, we are easily led into disappointment, or even despair.This is precisely why God has given us the theological virtue of hope: to guide and protect us in our lives. The foundation of our faith helps align our vision and will with God's, giving us the right worldview and values to face life’s trials and challenges. When faced with challenges in life, we realize how small and limited we are, and know that we need to rely on a power beyond ourselves to overcome these challenges. Unfortunately, many people rely on earthly wealth, power, and status, mistakenly believing they can control everything. But this is an illusion, a trap set by the devil to lead us to destruction. For Christians, our reliance must be on God. Our trust lies in a real, personal relationship with God and in His promises. This is the foundation and source of our hope.To strengthen our hope, we must understand the kind of relationship God desires with us and what our identity is. Jesus said He no longer calls us servants, but friends. And He entrusted us with the mission of continuing His work on earth. God wants us to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, cooperate with Him, aligning ourselves with the Father’s plan and participate in His work of salvation. As God once said to St. Catherine of Siena: “I created you without your help, but I will not save you without it.” This shows that God desires and needs our participation in His work of salvation. He needs us to respond, to accept His love and salvation, and to spread this gift of salvation, freely given us, so that more people may attain eternal life.God invites us to return His love by becoming channels of His love in the world, to spread His love like He did, without any conditions or expectation of return, with the same selfless spirit. Unfortunately, most people respond with indifference, rejecting His love and refusing to share this saving love with others.Since the light of Christ entered the world, God’s will is for us Christians to spread this light throughout the world. Unfortunately, our hardened hearts make us unresponsive to Him, causing Him grief. In the Book of Revelation, chapter 3, verse 15, God says: “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot.” We can feel God’s anger, which He continues to express in verse 16: “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” This sadly reflects the current state of many Christians. It could be said that in our generation, Christ’s light is perhaps at its dimmest. Our supposedly strong "faith" has been destroyed by worldliness and the devil, and the "hope" of Christians is about to be extinguished! Christian hope is meant to be the pillar of hope for the world. But this pillar is about to collapse. Can we afford to delay our response to God any longer? How much longer must God endure this faithless and hopeless generation? The Gospel of John, also written by John the Evangelist, says this in chapter 3, verse 16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” God loves us this deeply, yet we treat Him with such indifference. Is this the attitude we should have? Can we bear to make God wait in pain any longer?As the Book of James, chapter 2, verse 17 says: “Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” The same is true for hope. Hope is a choice. It is not passive. It calls for response and action. Christian hope without action brings no real hope to life; it becomes a self-deceiving ...
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    12 分
  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 39 – Holy Spirit Stirs up Hope to Elevate Love

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 39 – Holy Spirit Stirs up Hope to Elevate Love
    2025/04/17
    In our reflection on the twenty-fifth day of the retreat, we mentioned that while “hope” may seem small in the eyes of most people, it bears the important role of leading and propelling both “faith” and “love”. It has the power to move people into action. In His farewell message during the Last Supper, Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment:"Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) Jesus did not only teach this with words, He acted. He got up to wash His disciples’ feet, setting an example for them, encouraging them to develop an attitude and habit of serving one another, because love without action is dead. Even as He faced suffering and the anticipated crucifixion on the cross, Jesus retained inner freedom and strength, and was able to wash His disciples' feet and patiently taught them. This not only demonstrated His deep love for His disciples but also showed how the Holy Spirit empowered Him through hope.In fact, when we possess true “faith” and “hope”, we naturally gain the capacity to “love”. We must remember that the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love are gifts from God. All actions grounded in these virtues draw their strength and motivation from the Holy Spirit. From Jesus, we witness the mighty supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.It was the power of the Holy Spirit that moved Jesus, who loves us to the end, to take up His cross and embark on the Way of the Cross towards Calvary. On the cross, He gave up His life for us, not only fulfilling the new commandment of love with His actions, but elevating its spirit to a new height.In John 15:12–14, Jesus reaffirms His command to love one another: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you." Jesus wasn't speaking empty words. He meant what He said. He truly sees us as His friends, His most beloved friends.However, He didn't only die for His friends, but also for His enemies and even for those who crucified Him. That is the true essence of love taught by God. This kind of love doesn’t seek its own benefit. It thinks solely of the good of others, without any conditions and without expecting anything in return. Jesus calls us to love as He did, even to love our enemies. This is what He taught in Luke 6:27–28: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." So Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was not just for His friends. It was for His enemies as well, because He loves them all.We might think, “Jesus could do that because He is the Son of God. How could we ever reach that level of love?” But we must understand that Jesus will never ask us to do something that is impossible for us. True, we cannot do it on our own. But by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love that He has given us, we can. We must remember that with God, nothing is impossible!Jesus wants us to witness from Him that, as a true man, empowered by the Holy Spirit and the virtues of faith, hope and love, He was able to fulfill the great mission entrusted to Him by the Father. In the same way, through the grace and strength given to us by the same Holy Spirit, we too can accomplish the great works that God wants to work in us.Therefore, Jesus continues in John 15:15–17: "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name." (John 15:12-17)Indeed, through His teachings and His role model, Jesus has revealed to us everything He heard from the Father. He wants us to continue His mission and has chosen us to bear lasting fruit, the fruits born of faith, hope, and love. And as we fulfill the mission that our Heavenly Father has given us, we can boldly ask for whatever we need in Jesus’ name, and the Father will grant them to us!ReflectionHave you ever felt overwhelmed or powerless when trying to live out the virtue of love? Reflect on the reasons behind that feeling.Learn from Jesus’ actions of love and His great love for you, expressed by His death on the cross. When you lack the motivation or strength to live out love, what can inspire you to pick up the strength and carry on?Now, in prayer, ask the Holy Spirit for inspiration and wisdom to discern how to cooperate with Him in your daily life to live out Jesus’ teachings and fulfill the mission the Father has entrusted to you.Today’s PrayerMy beloved Lord ...
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    14 分
  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 38 – God’s Word is Hope

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 38 – God’s Word is Hope
    2025/04/16
    God's desire is that we may be with Him not only in this life but also in eternal life, and that we may enjoy and receive all that is best. Everything He has done and arranged for us is for our greatest benefit. Since our first ancestors betrayed God, not only did God not abandon us, but for our sake, He saved us through the birth, suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He also established the Church on earth for us, sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us, and instituted the sacraments to nourish and remain with us. Through Jesus, God brought the Kingdom of Heaven into the world, allowing us to have a foretaste of its sweetness, so that we may yearn for it even more and be filled with hope in our lives. The ultimate goal is to ensure that we can smoothly transition through our earthly lives and enter eternal life, to be with Him forever.In a sense, God has already done everything He could for us and He is simply waiting for our response. In Jesus’ first parable about the Kingdom of Heaven, the Parable of the Sower, He explains the mindset and attitude we should have in order to receive the word of the Kingdom into our lives, so that the Word may take root in our hearts and transform us and our lives. (Cf. Matthew 13:1–23)Unfortunately, most people do not allow the message of the Kingdom to enter their lives. Many even respond with indifference. In the parable, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah to describe them: “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:14-15) Those who do not have open hearts or space within will not listen to or accept the word of the Kingdom, nor will they have the patience to understand it.In contrast, Jesus describes in the parable that the seeds falling on good soil will bear fruit a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. For the farmers of that time, such a harvest was unimaginable. This shows that for those who accept God's salvation and His Kingdom, He has prepared unexpected and unimaginable rewards and blessings! For those who seek the Kingdom and are willing to listen with open hearts and receive its message, how could this not lead to a great harvest? How could it not bring immense hope to their lives? Therefore, to be willing to listen to God's Word is to dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the key to letting the Kingdom take root in our hearts, and it is the reason we can find true hope in our lives.That is why Jesus said to His disciples: “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” (Matthew 13:16) This blessing is in stark contrast to those who, because of their hardened hearts, refuse to listen. So when facing people who see but do not perceive, hear but do not understand, and whose hardened hearts keep them from turning back, how could Jesus not feel sad and helpless?Jesus is the sower who generously scatters the Word of God. But in the face of people’s indifference toward the Word and their coldness toward God, how could Jesus not feel heartbroken? No wonder He ended the parable with this plea: “Let anyone with ears listen!” (Matthew 13:9)ReflectionHow seriously do you take the Word of God? Have you put it into practice in your life, or is it just knowledge in your head?What in your life hinders you from hearing and receiving God’s Word? What actions can you take to become the fertile soil that bears fruit a hundredfold?Take a moment to savour everything God has done for you. What more do you think God needs to do for you to make you more willing to receive His Word and live it out?Today’s PrayerDear Lord Jesus, thank You for generously sowing the Word of God into my heart. I understand Your expectations of me. Through today’s reflection, I feel even more deeply Your sorrow, because of my hardened heart, I have not treated every word You speak to me with the seriousness it deserves.I understand that You have already done everything You can. You are simply waiting for my response, hoping that I will diligently cultivate the field of my heart and remove all obstacles that prevent me from bearing fruit.I don't want to cause You pain anymore! Please help me! Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear Your Word, and transform my hardened heart into one that is sensitive and discerning of Your will for me!Lord Jesus, thank You once again! I love You!--------------------Fundraising AppealThank you for participating in this 40-day Lenten spiritual journey. We hope you have been inspired and have benefitted from it! For the spiritual benefit of all of you, Fountain of Love and Life devotes a lot of time and effort in producing various spiritual projects every year, and all our ministries are sustained...
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    13 分
  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 37 – What Exactly is the “Kingdom of God”?

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 37 – What Exactly is the “Kingdom of God”?
    2025/04/15
    Throughout this retreat, we have touched on various concepts related to the Kingdom of Heaven. Now, let us delve deeper into what exactly this Kingdom refers to, and where it is.As the name suggests, the Kingdom of Heaven is the Kingdom of God, meaning that God, through Jesus Christ, reigns over all creation. Jesus is the King of this Kingdom.Pope Benedict XVI, in the first volume of his book Jesus of Nazareth, explains that the Kingdom is not a thing, it is not a geographical dominion like worldly kingdoms. It is a person; it is Jesus Himself.Through His teachings and example, Jesus fulfilled the will of the Father and embodied the spirit of the Kingdom. Therefore, Pope Benedict XVI emphasizes that the Kingdom of God is Jesus Himself. His incarnation as a human being embodies the fact that the Kingdom of Heaven has come to earth. Pope Benedict XVI further states: "By the way in which he speaks of the Kingdom of God, Jesus leads men to realize the overwhelming fact that in him God himself is present among them, that he is God’s presence.”In reality, the Kingdom of God exists in the hearts of people and within the Church that Jesus established. It exists through the Church. Thus, the Kingdom of God is not just a hope for the future, but is already present in this world through the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the Sacraments. However, the Kingdom of Heaven on earth is imperfect because the Church is a church of sinners. Just as Jesus used the parable of the weeds among the wheat (cf. Matthew 13:30) to describe the Kingdom of Heaven, He said that both will grow together in the field until the harvest, which is until Christ returns for the final judgment. So, the Kingdom of Heaven is also a future reality, to be fully realized at the end of the world when Christ comes again. This is the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven having already begun but not yet completed.To find hope in the Kingdom of God, we first need a heart of repentance and conversion. This means we must transform our heart and mindset to turn away from sin, and join the family of the Church through the Sacrament of Baptism, becoming a part of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, the Mystical Body of Christ. We must live in Christ and attain communion with all those loved by God, our brothers and sisters in Christ, so that our lives may be made whole.Through the Church and within the Church, we can more easily discern the will of God and live out the spirit of the Kingdom of Heaven, that is, the spirit of Christ. To do so, we need to live by the Word, for Christ is the Word. Those who hear the words of Christ and act on them will build their lives on a solid foundation and become heirs of the Kingdom. But to inherit the Kingdom, we must fulfill the new commandment that Jesus gave when He instituted the Church, that is, we must love one another as He has loved us. This new commandment of love is the core of the Kingdom of Heaven! It also helps us to embody and carry out the justice and will of our Heavenly Father within the Kingdom, that is, in the Church and in the world today. By doing so, we can bring transformation to the world, reshape human relationships, and foster a culture of true love, peace, forgiveness, and service to one another.When our hearts proclaim Jesus as our Saviour and King, and we sincerely live out His teachings to love God and others, then we truly live in the Kingdom of Heaven. At the same time, the Kingdom, that is, Jesus Christ, lives within us and takes root in our hearts. Our lives are made complete in the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love given to us by God. With steadfast hope, we can look forward to the second coming of the King of Heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ.ReflectionDo you yearn to live within the Kingdom of God? How can you turn this longing into reality by living out the spirit of the Kingdom and of Christ in your daily life?Do you long for the perfect Kingdom of Heaven that will come when Jesus returns? How will you prepare yourself to welcome the arrival of this new heaven and new earth?Are you living in the Mystical Body of Christ, that is, within the Church, and in communion with your brothers and sisters in the faith, supporting one another as you journey together toward the Kingdom of Heaven?Today's PrayerAbba Father, I sincerely thank You for letting Jesus become man for the sake of the mankind You love and for my sake. Not only did He suffer, endure hardship, and die on the cross for me, He was also willing to experience all the pain of this world just to be truly present with me.But my life is so busy, and there are so many temptations. I also have many earthly desires and cravings that leave no room for me to sense Your presence in my life, to appreciate all You’ve done for me. I have not truly lived in Your Kingdom or lived out its essence.Thank You for Your patience with me. I know You have been waiting, waiting for me to awaken, waiting for me to draw closer to ...
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    14 分
  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 36 – A More Fatal Stumbling Block

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 36 – A More Fatal Stumbling Block
    2025/04/14
    Today, let us take a different perspective and look at another stumbling block that hinders us from finding hope. It turns out that another way to test and reveal the extent of our faith and hope is to consider: what do we ask of God?The rich young man came before Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16) The rich young man longed for eternal life and yearned to attain it, showing that he regarded eternal life as his happiness, which precisely fits the definition of the virtue of hope in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1817)In addition, he had the right goal and desired to do good, which is exactly what Jesus teaches us. Therefore, Jesus loved him very much (cf. Mark 10:21). However, his simple question revealed the mindset of the rich young man. He hoped to earn eternal life by doing something himself. What he believed in was his own ability, rather than relying on God's grace.On the other hand, Peter even boldly asked Jesus for a reward, on behalf of himself and the other disciples, because they had willingly given up everything to follow Him.The former, that is, the rich young man, wanted to show that he had the ability to respond to God’s demands and accomplish certain things; the latter, that is, Peter, felt self-satisfied and compared themselves with the rich young man, believing that he and his companions had already given up everything for Jesus, and hoped that Jesus would somehow reward them.We can clearly see that Peter and the disciples had indeed taken a significant step further than the rich young man. On the path of growing in the virtues of faith and hope, the disciples were undeniably closer to God’s Kingdom than the young man. However, let us take our analysis a step further.What Jesus asks of us first and foremost is not to rely on earthly wealth. For He solemnly said to His disciples: “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:24–25) Therefore, the primary condition Jesus set for His chosen disciples was that they must give up everything to follow Him.At that time, Jesus began with a more basic requirement, inviting the rich young man to keep God’s commandments. In an effort to demonstrate his faith and capability, the rich young man confidently responded to Jesus, saying that he had kept all of them. So Jesus then said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21) Jesus’ response might strike us as blunt, harsh, or even unreasonable, but in reality, it is not.Jesus knew that if we are to follow Him successfully and faithfully, we must trust Him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind. The prerequisite is our willingness to let go of earthly wealth. But refraining from relying on our possessions and material riches is only the first step! What is even more difficult is to stop depending on our own abilities, including our skills, our capacity to handle things, and the belief that we can achieve our goals by our own methods and willpower.Just like the rich young man believed he could fulfill Jesus’ demands through his own strength, Peter and the disciples also thought that by their own will, they had the power to choose to leave everything behind and follow Jesus.So, although there was still a significant gap between the rich young man and the disciples in their response to God and their journey of building the virtue of hope, they had not yet met Jesus’ requirement: to deny themselves, to stop relying on their own abilities, and to fully trust and follow Him.That is why Jesus looked at His disciples intently and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)As we set our hearts on reaching a more complete and mature hope, let us reflect seriously and examine our current state, considering how we can truly deny ourselves, make the deliberate choice to let go of all that binds us to the world, and resist the temptation to place our trust in our own abilities.ReflectionNow, take a moment to examine yourself carefully. Do you tend to think that you are doing quite well, and are self-righteous, so that you are unaware of your own flaws and weaknesses?Do you tend to rely on your own abilities, or become prideful and self-satisfied because of the right choices you have made or the good deeds you have done?As you journey toward attaining a fuller and more complete faith and hope, take time to assess your progress and identify any stumbling blocks along the way. In prayer, invite the Holy Spirit to help you.Today’s PrayerLord Jesus Christ, today’s reflection has shaken me and opened my eyes! I have realized that on my journey of faith and hope, I still have...
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    14 分
  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 35 – A Stumbling Block to Finding Hope

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 35 – A Stumbling Block to Finding Hope
    2025/04/13
    During the previous day’s retreat, we explored the following questions: “Where do we invest our energy and life? What exactly are we asking of God?” Today, we continue this topic.I hope you still remember that we previously talked about the Gospel story of the rich young man (cf. Matthew 19:16–26). After that story, there’s a short episode that is also worth reflecting on. The rich young man, unwilling to part with his possessions, failed to respond to Jesus' call and went away grieving.Jesus then said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:23–27)Peter then spoke up and said to Jesus: “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (Matthew 19:27) (cf. Mark 10:28)Jesus answered: “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29–30)Here we see that even Peter, the chief of the apostles, couldn’t help but ask Jesus what the reward would be for following Him. Jesus wasn’t the least bit offended or displeased by the question. He didn’t rebuke Peter but instead responded seriously. His answer shows that if someone is willing to generously give up everything for His sake and for the sake of the Gospel, not only will they gain eternal life, but they will also receive a hundredfold reward even in this life! Of course, not everyone is called to give up everything to follow Jesus. But Jesus’ response teaches us that if we’re willing to let go of material things and worldly pleasures for His sake, God will never treat us unfairly in this life, in fact, He will reward us abundantly. In short, if we are generous with God, He will be even more generous with us. He is never outdone in generosity!You might have noticed that Jesus even included “persecutions” as part of the reward! You may be thinking: No way!This isn’t because Jesus purposely wants to make life hard for us. It’s because He knows that anyone who truly follows Him will face some level of rejection, resistance, opposition, exclusion, or even hatred and persecution from the world. This is actually unreasonable treatment, but because the followers love the Lord so deeply that they are willing to endure all kinds of persecution for His sake. This is why St. Paul the apostle firmly said in his second letter to Timothy, chapter 3, verse 12, “Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” This ties into what we discussed earlier, how suffering on our earthly pilgrimage is something that benefits us spiritually.Let us remind ourselves once again that the foundation of the virtue of hope is trust in Christ’s promises. Our level of trust in God is reflected in how willing we are to let go of our dependence on worldly things, and how much we are willing to surrender our “possessions” in order to choose God. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)If our hearts are not with God, then we are not living in the Kingdom of God. As Jesus warned His disciples, the more we trust in riches, and the more we accumulate and cling to, the harder it is to enter God’s Kingdom (cf. Mark 10:24).When we don’t yearn for or live in God’s Kingdom, we cannot find true hope. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines hope as follows: “Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1817)No wonder the rich young man, unable to let go, ended up losing his hope, went away grieving. (cf. Mark 10:22)ReflectionDo you have things in your life that you struggle to let go of, things that hinder you from responding to God’s call or seizing the opportunities He gives you? How would you like to begin changing that?Where do you want your reward and your treasure to be? What are you really seeking?Have you ever felt lost or even felt that your life has lost its meaning because you didn’t choose God or the path to His Kingdom? In prayer, ask God to show you the path He desires for you to take.Today’s PrayerLord Jesus Christ, thank You for once again drawing me into that moment of Your encounter with the rich young man, and ...
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    14 分
  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 34 – Unfathomable Promise

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 34 – Unfathomable Promise
    2025/04/11
    When we build relationships with others, we need to get to know each other. As we continue to deepen our relationship with God, let us also take a moment to reflect on human nature.Although God created humans in His own image, there’s often a clear case of “the goods not matching the label”! This isn’t because God made a mistake, but rather due to the sinful nature of man. Humans are selfish and self-centered, leading us to be greedy or to be overly calculating. These weaknesses are easy to spot in both ourselves and others. When we are taken advantage of or used by others for their gain, we feel angry.There is only one being in the world who doesn’t mind us constantly drawing benefits from Him, and that is God! Hebrews 11:6 says: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)Take note. God does not set many conditions here. The only requirement is that we believe in His existence and that He will reward those who seek Him. This is no simple promise! Unfortunately, few people have uncovered this mystery, and most are only concerned with tangible, immediate benefits.People tend to worry and live in the future, rather than in the present. Yet because “hope” relates to the future, those of us who often worry need to strengthen our “hope” to ease our anxiety about the future.Who doesn't long for a better future? But this hope is often out of touch with reality. Especially as our bodies age, energy declines, and our ability to act or respond diminishes, even just thinking about these things can make us feel depressed! So deep down we know that a better future, while not impossible, is by no means easy!When our minds are consumed by the idea that we are moving toward death, it is difficult to maintain a positive and proactive attitude towards what is happening to us. But we must remember that we are made for eternity. So we need to have a long-term vision and not be short-sighted!Those who understand investment always go for long-term returns, not short-term ones. How much more should that apply to our lives? And here’s the greatest news: when we invest our greatest effort into building a relationship with God, the return isn’t just in heaven, but also here on earth.One day, we will come to realize that we cannot rely solely on ourselves. We also know that relying on material things can’t bring spiritual comfort, only human relationships can bring spiritual satisfaction. Yet God desires to give us even more, He wants our souls to be satisfied. So, when seeking the best foundation to lean on, how can God not be our first choice!Isn’t it so? Ask yourself: who in this world is all-powerful? Who can guarantee they won’t depart from this life before us? Who will always be with us in times of need? Who is utterly trustworthy and never breaks a promise? Who is eternal and unchanging? Besides God, who else? God's love for us is unconditional. Even when we fail Him, He never fails us. In fact, His very nature prevents Him from disappointing us! His love is also bottomless, and there is no “withdrawal limit.” Since we are created by God, He holds the blueprint of our being. No doctor knows how to heal and provide for our body, mind, and soul better than He does. Most importantly, God always puts our well-being first, even above His own. And because only God is eternal, only He can fulfill both our temporal and eternal needs!If there were any person or product in this world that could offer such an extraordinary and transcendent guarantee, what else would there be to consider?Therefore, we should not hold onto the misconception that God doesn’t want us to have “wealth” in this life. That is simply not true! It depends on what kind of wealth we seek.God’s deepest desire is for us to have more, better, and the very best of all things! He has no hesitation in giving us a treasure that no one else on earth can give!ReflectionWhere is your time and energy currently being invested? What kind of benefit are you seeking?Are your hopes placed in things, in people, or in God? Take a moment now to answer this question honestly and reflect on it.After today’s reflection, do you better understand how deeply God cares for you and how much He longs to give you the very best? Please bring this into your prayer and pour out your heart to God.Today’s PrayerMy dearest Abba Father, thank You for showing me how deeply I am loved, and how ignorant I have been! I have not examined how self-centered I am, how attached I am to earthly gains, and how ungrateful I’ve been. Even worse, I have not realized how blessed I am!Why have I never seen the blessings You long to give me… never seen the love You want to pour out on me… never seen You…I grieve over the blindness of my heart! I don’t even know when it started, but my heart seems to have hardened! There is no space, no ...
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    14 分
  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 33 – A Generation of Broken Trust and Lost Hope

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 33 – A Generation of Broken Trust and Lost Hope
    2025/04/10
    I hope yesterday’s reflection helps everyone realize that the greatest crisis in the world is not an economic crisis, not an environmental crisis, not a political crisis, nor even a crisis of war, it is a crisis of faith, and more importantly, a crisis of hope.The greatest pillar of this world is the Truth that Christ left behind. This Truth is rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the example He set for us, in other words, the spirit of Christ. This Truth has been passed down to this day through the Church established by Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The role of the Church is to strengthen the faith of Christians, and to pass on the spirit of Christ and His promises to us from generation to generation.Faith is a relationship, a relationship between human beings and God. “Faith” is when we entrust ourselves to God. And “hope” is when we extend this trust from now into the future, until we are reunited with God in Heaven. Therefore, without “faith”, there is no “hope”. “Hope” grows through the inheritance of “faith”, under the nurturing and protection of the Church. And “hope”, in turn, carries the responsibility of sustaining “faith”.Our relationship with the Lord is the source of both faith and hope — and the foundation of everything. When the Church — the cradle of faith and hope — is attacked and harmed, the spiritual pillar of the entire world, the Christ-like spirit that Jesus spread to the world, will be severely weakened, and it becomes a big question whether God’s salvation can be passed on.Although “salvation” is an unconditional gift from God, God will never force us to accept it, therefore, we must actively respond to and accept it. Without belief or the virtue of faith, without a relationship with God and without a concept of eternal life, people will have no desire or yearning for the things of Heaven. They won’t long for eternal life or to be with God forever. When that longing is lost, so too is the desire for “salvation”, and this precious gift will gradually be lost. Isn’t this exactly what the devil wants most?That is why the mission of Christians is so important, because we each bear the responsibility of preserving, nurturing, and passing on “faith” and “hope”. Just imagine, when our faith grows weak, and our hope is extinguished, the light of the world will go out with it. The sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ would then be in vain! Christians not only have the responsibility to preserve and strengthen their own “faith” and “hope”, but also to pass this light of “faith” and “hope” on to those around them.If we don’t take action, if we continue to naively believe that everything is fine and will work itself out, then by the time we realize the light of “faith” and “hope” has extinguished, it will be too late to save it.But we cannot pass on what we do not ourselves possess. If we have no relationship with the Lord, if we have no trust in Him or longing for Him, how can we introduce these treasures to others? If we do not know our own destination, how can we lead others there? If there is no light of Christ within us, how can we pass this light on to others, or to the world?That is why having a correct understanding of God and a real relationship with Him is so important! This is why we must make this the top priority in the meaning and purpose of our lives! For this reason, during this retreat, we have spent a lot of time trying to understand the nature and perspective of God, as well as His ways. Only when we have a correct view of God, ourselves, and the world, can we begin to build God’s Kingdom here on earth.ReflectionDo you believe that the Truth of God and the spirit of Christ play a pivotal role in the future and destiny of humanity? I invite you now to reflect on this question carefully.Do you place enough importance on your own faith and hope? Have you invested enough time in nurturing these two important virtues?Do you feel you have a responsibility to spread faith and hope? Do you feel a sense of urgency that leads you to take action?Today’s PrayerLord Jesus Christ, today I realize how ignorant I have been. I thought everything was fine, normal, and to be taken for granted. I did not recognize the seriousness of the problems, nor did I realize how important my mission was. So I never gave it much thought, nor did I truly explore the significance of faith in my life. Because of that, I have neglected my relationship with You.Thank You for reminding me through today’s reflection. You have made me deeply aware that both I and this world are facing a serious crisis of faith and hope. I don’t want to be someone who is “faithless” and “hopeless”, and even more so, I don’t want to hurt You by remaining in that state.From today onward, I long to know You more, and to love You more. Please ignite within me the light of faith and hope, and strengthen my sense ...
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    13 分