Religion of hope

If Christianity has spread to the farthest corners of the world it is because of its promise and assurance of hope in life eternal. The promise, of course, is not just based on empty words but backed by instances and reality.  Even the Founder Himself, the Lord Jesus, had His life and miracles to follow up His words.  So even if Jesus had said “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4), His words and deeds proved the truth of all He said, yea, His own life, death and resurrection are strong proof of His life and mission to save the world.  “The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14).

Even at the end of the gospel written by St. Mark there is reference to the many facts and happenings that accompanied the faith of Christians through the ages.  “These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover” (Mk. 16:17).  You can read all that in the history of the Catholic Church and the marvels or miracles portrayed in the lives of her Saints ever since her very beginnings.  As Jesus had said, “the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him” (Mt. 7:8).  If you are humble and sincere to yourself and persevere in your search, you will most certainly encounter the truth ‘that will set you free’ (Jn. 8:32).