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Jubilee Year 2025 Embrace God's Hope and Extend It to All A Scripture-Based Study Guide for Exploring Pope Francis’s Jubilee Year 2025 Document Spes Non Confundit Link to S pes Non Confundit Introduction: Respond to the Invitation to Embrace God’s Hope God wants to renew our hope and help us put our faith and hope into action. Overview: How to Use This Study Guide Suggestions for individuals, small group members, and small group leaders. A Note About Our Terminology What do we mean when we refer to a “part of a paragraph”? Session 1: Why we can have hope We find hope because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through Jesus. (Read paragraphs 1-4) Session 2: The Jubilee leads us on a journey of hope The Jubilee Year invites us to encounter Jesus, who is our hope. (Read paragraphs 1, 5, and 6) Session 3: Where signs of hope are needed today, part 1 Peace and war; welcoming children; prisoners. (Read paragraphs 7-10) Session 4: Where signs of hope are needed today, part 2 The sick; the young; migrants and refugees; the elderly. (Read paragraphs 11-14) Session 5: Where signs of hope are needed today, part 3, and broader appeals for hope The poor; the goods of the earth, debt, economic priorities; synodality. (Read paragraphs 15-17) Session 6: A life anchored in hope, part 1 Faith, charity, and hope; life everlasting; death; happiness. (Read paragraphs 18-21) Session 7: A life anchored in hope, part 2 God’s judgment; indulgence and Penance; the Mother of God; hope as an anchor. (Read paragraphs 22-25) Bibliography Sources used in this study of Spes Non Confundit . Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page

Previous Next Jubilee Year 2025: Embrace God’s Hope and Extend It to All Session 1: Why we can have hope We find hope because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through Jesus. (Read paragraphs 1-4) Link to S pes Non Confundit Photo by Tom Faletti, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, March 29, 2024. Tom Faletti November 16, 2024 The title of Pope Francis’s document means “Hope Does Not Disappoint.” It’s easy to have hope when things are going well. But what about in the hard times? In this session, Pope Francis explores what hope is, where it comes from, and why we can have it. The Christian life flourishes when it is grounded in hope. Pope Francis draws on the words of the Apostle Paul to remind us why hope is possible even in the hard times, how even suffering can lead us to hope. Our study guide questions will help us explore how God’s love supports our hope and how Jesus Christ stands at the epicenter of God’s active love for the world. Jesus Christ is the foremost reason why we can have hope and bring hope to our world. Read paragraphs 1-4 in preparation for this session. You can use the links next to each heading to jump to that part of Pope Francis’s document. Paragraph 1 (the Jubilee is an opportunity for hope) 🔗 What does “hope” mean to you? How would you describe it? In the second part [1] of paragraph 1 , Pope Francis says that “God’s word helps us find reasons” for hope. How has God’s word helped you find a reason for hope? Is there a particular passage from the Bible that has especially inspired or supported your hope? If so, how does that passage speak to you? How can hope make a difference in the lives of people we might encounter who are anxious, doubtful, discouraged, pessimistic, or cynical about the future? Suggested Activity: Take a few minutes to contemplate what life feels like to someone who is unemployed, dealing with a chronic illness, facing the fear of violence due to their background or heritage, discouraged about the future, etc. Try to feel their pain. Then consider whether there is something you could do for someone such as this – perhaps directly for someone you know, or by getting involved in a ministry in your parish or community (perhaps through Catholic Charities in your diocese or through another organization). (Section 1) A word of hope In this section, Pope Francis explores the biblical basis for the hope we have in God. Paragraph 2 (why we can have hope) 🔗 Read Romans 5:1-2,5 (we will look at verses 3 and 4 in Paragraph 4 later in this session) What does Paul tell us in Romans 5:1-2 that allows him to say that we have hope? In verse 5, Paul says that hope does not disappoint us. Why? How would you explain verse 5 in your own words? How have you experienced the love of God poured into your heart? How does knowing that God loves you so much allow you to show greater love to others? Paragraph 3 (hope is born of love) 🔗 In paragraph 3, why does Pope Francis say, “Hope is born of love”? How does Romans 5:5 helps to explain this statement? Note: In paragraph 3, the Scripture cited as coming from Romans 5:19 is actually Romans 5:10. Read Romans 5:10 What is Jesus’s role in our being reconciled to God? How does the fact that we are reconciled with God through Christ point us toward both inward and outward responses to God’s love? How does Romans 5:10 support Pope Francis’s statement that hope is born of love? How have you experienced God’s love giving you hope? In the second part of paragraph 3, Pope Francis describes the action of the Holy Spirit in giving us hope. What does he say the Holy Spirit does? How does Romans 5:5 support this understanding of the Holy Spirit? How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your life? Read Romans 8:35 and 8:37-39 How does Romans 8:35-39 expand our understanding of why we can live a life of hope? Paragraph 4 (hope requires patience) 🔗 Knowing that we all face times of suffering, Pope Francis point us to Romans 5:3-4. Read Romans 5:3-4 Paul tells us that even suffering can lead to hope. He describes it as a multi-step process. What are the steps he sees that lead from suffering to hope? Think about the sequence of steps Paul suggests: suffering  endurance  character  hope. Everyone is unique and not everyone experiences things in exactly the same way, but Paul’s analysis can still useful. How might people experience suffering as a process that leads to hope? In the rest of paragraph 4 (including part 2 of paragraph 4) Pope Francis explains that patience is closely linked to hope. Why is patience so important in the cultivation of hope? When Pope Francis says that patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, he is referring to Galatians 6:22-23. Pope Francis cites St. Francis of Assisi in reminding us of the value of contemplation, including the contemplation of creation. How might making time for contemplation help us deal with our impatience? How might contemplation help us manage the cultural demands that treat everything as “urgent” and in need of immediate response? How might you make contemplation a more central part of your life? Suggested Activities: Spend a few minutes in quiet contemplation each day. You might find it helpful to find a good guide to contemplation from a respected Catholic or Christian author. Read and contemplate a portion of the New Testament each day. One way to approach the meditation of Scripture is through the practice of lectio divina . Read Galatians 5:22-23 Paul is telling us that God the Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the patience we need to endure patiently the sufferings we face. How does this make you feel, knowing that God wants to give you what you need to go from suffering to hope? How have you experienced suffering leading to hope in your life? In the second part of paragraph 4, Pope Francis quotes from a translation of Romans 15:5 that says that God is characterized by patience (“the God of all patience and encouragement”). Where do you see God’s patience in your life or in the lives of others? How does that give you hope? [1] See A Note About Our Terminology for an explanation of what we mean by a “part” of a paragraph. Bibliography Click here for the bibliography . Copyright © 2024, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com . See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page

Previous Next Jubilee Year 2025: Embrace God’s Hope and Extend It to All Session 2: The Jubilee leads us on a journey of hope The Jubilee Year invites us to encounter Jesus, who is our hope. (Read paragraphs 1, 5, and 6) Link to S pes Non Confundit Photo by Tom Faletti, Rothenburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. Tom Faletti November 16, 2024 In this session, we will see Pope Francis reveal one of his deepest desires: that this Jubilee may help us have a personal encounter with Jesus and an intense experience of God’s love, which will awaken hope in our hearts. We will further explore Pope Francis’s discussion of why Jesus is our hope and then move into the second section of Spes Non Confundit , where he explains the concept of a Jubilee Year, how the Jubilee Year has been celebrated in the past and will be celebrated this year. He will also explore the meaning and value of a pilgrimage. Our study guide questions will help us explore how we have experienced a personal encounter with Jesus and how we can experience the love of God more fully. We will explore our own possible participation in the Jubilee Year, how our faith can be thought of as a pilgrimage or journey of hope, and how the light we shine might communicate the love of God to others. Read paragraphs 1, 5, and 6 in preparation for this session. Paragraph 1 (one more insight: a personal encounter with Jesus) 🔗 Let’s look at one more part of paragraph 1 before we move forward. At the end of paragraph 1, Pope Francis quotes from Paul’s first letter to Timothy and from the Gospel of John – passages of Scripture that refer to Jesus as our hope and as the door to eternal life. Read 1 Timothy 1:1 Why is Christ Jesus our hope? Read John 10:7-10 Some translations say Jesus is the “door” and some say He is the “gate” (different possible translations of the same Greek word). How is Jesus a door (or gate) for us? How does Jesus’s role as the door to salvation and abundant life give you hope? Pope Francis connects the role of Jesus as the door of our salvation to the Holy Year of Jubilee, where special doors of grace are opened in Rome. He says: “For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus” (par. 1). What does he mean by a personal encounter with Jesus? How have you experienced a personal encounter with Jesus, and how does it give you hope? Suggested Activity: How well do you know the life and teachings of Jesus? Have you ever read His whole story? If you like to read novels, read one of the Gospels. If you prefer podcasts, listen to an audio reading of a Gospel. (If you think you don’t have time, consider how long it takes to read a novel. You can read or listen to an entire Gospel in 3 hours.) Some suggestions for where to start: the Gospel of Mark (the shortest), the Gospel of Matthew (the most practical), the Gospel of John (the most “spiritual”). (Section 2) A journey of hope In this section, Pope Francis discusses the practice of the Jubilee Year. Paragraph 5 (the Christian life as a journey, and the role of Jubilee Years) 🔗 In paragraph 5, what are some of the examples Pope Francis offers for how God was at work in the Church prior to the first Jubilee in the year 1300? In the second part of paragraph 5, what are some of the benefits of going on a pilgrimage? Have you ever experienced the benefits of a pilgrimage (near or far away)? Explain. The title of this section is “A journey of hope.” How is your faith life like a journey, with many stops and intersections along the way? How do you find hope on your journey of faith? Suggested Activity: If you are unable to take a pilgrimage to Rome, contact your diocesan office and ask how you might take a Jubilee Year pilgrimage to the Jubilee Year site designated by your bishop (which may be your local cathedral). As you avail yourself of this opportunity, allow the love of God to permeate you and purify you from all that is not of Christ. In the third part of paragraph 5, Pope Francis refers to the Eastern (Catholic) Churches, which are a group of churches that are autonomous and have distinct practices from those in the Roman Catholic Church but operate within the worldwide Catholic Church and are in full communion with the Pope. Pope Francis’s mention of “their Orthodox brothers and sisters” refers to the Eastern Orthodox Church, an independent communion of churches that, like the Catholic Church, traces its roots to the apostles but has been separated from the Roman Catholic Church since 1054. He says they have endured violence and instability because many of these churches are located in areas of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa that are currently torn by war. In the third part of paragraph 5, why does Pope Francis invite members of the Eastern Churches to participate in this Jubilee, and why does he especially extend an “embrace” to all those who currently “endure their own Way of the Cross”? How might the Church’s concern for them give them “hope”? Why is it important to extend a hand of friendship to others in Christ’s divided Body? Paragraph 6 (this Jubilee Year) 🔗 In paragraph 6, Pope Francis places this Holy Year in the context of a series of Holy Years that are being celebrated from 2000 to 2033. What are the milestones that make these years especially important to be celebrated? Pope Francis says that the purpose of the Jubilee Year of 2025 is to “invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God that awakens in hearts the sure hope of salvation in Christ” (par. 6). Unpack this sentence: What does “an intense experience” mean? What is Pope Francis hoping will happen in 2025? What does he mean by people experiencing “the love of God”? What specifically is he hoping they will experience? What is “the sure hope of salvation in Christ”? In what ways can our hope of salvation be “sure”? What does it mean when he says that our hope is to be “awakened”? In what ways might it need to be awakened in a fresh way? Why is it important that through this celebration we are “inviting” people? Why is it important that we are inviting “everyone”? Re-read the full sentence: “Now the time has come for a new Jubilee, when once more the Holy Door will be flung open to invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God that awakens in hearts the sure hope of salvation in Christ” (par. 6). When have you had this experience of the love of God in the past? In what areas of your life do you need a renewal of this experience? What can you do to enter more fully into the experience of the love of God in your heart? The second part of paragraph 6 describes how the Jubilee Year begins in Rome. What happens there? Note: The third part of paragraph 6 describes what is to happen in every diocese. A Mass is celebrated in each diocese’s cathedral to open the Jubilee Year, and local bishops are expected to provide a way for people to make a pilgrimage journey there throughout the Holy Year. Do you think you will participate, or have you participated, in some way in the Jubilee Year in your diocese? Why or why not? What do you hope to experience, or have you experienced, by your participation? At the end of the last part of paragraph 6, Pope Francis expresses his hope for what will happen during this Jubilee Year. How might you participate in shining “the light of Christian hope” as “a message of God’s love addressed to all” (par. 6)? Where might you be hiding or blocking the light of God’s hope and love? How can you “bear faithful witness” to the message of God’s love more effectively in your life? Suggested Activities: Invite someone to come to church with you. Share with a friend or neighbor, in a low-key way, how God has made a difference in your life and see where the conversation goes. Bibliography Click here for the bibliography . Copyright © 2024, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com . See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page

Previous Next Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Discipleship, Responsibility, Transformation Many seek to use him for their own cause, but few want to embrace his total commitment to Christ. “Dietrich Bonhoeffer Stained Glass.” St Johannes Basilikum, Berlin, Germany. Sludge G. Photo taken 30 Aug. 2009, https://www.flickr.com/photos/sludgeulper/3904027037 . Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 , https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dietrich_Bonhoeffer_.jpg . Tom Faletti December 26, 2024 What does it mean to be a fully committed follower of Jesus Christ? Dietrich Bonhoeffer devoted his life to that question. Although his answer shifted over time, his devotion to Christ never wavered and he ultimately gave up his life because of his faith. A new movie, Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. (Angel Studios, 2024), tells a gripping tale of Bonhoeffer’s life and execution in a Nazi concentration camp on April 9, 1945, but it provides little illumination of the faith this German pastor expressed so powerfully in his writings and his teaching. At the core of Bonhoeffer’s life was a commitment to the whole gospel and a radical desire to live fully for Christ. Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran minister in Germany when the Nazi dictatorship took power in the 1930s and began to eliminate those it hated. Hitler wanted total allegiance, and that demand is necessarily a problem for Christians, for whom only God is worthy of total allegiance. Most Christians in Germany at the time did not recognize how incompatible the Christian faith was with Hitler’s hatreds, goals, and methods. Bonhoeffer saw the problem from the start and sought to keep Christ at the core of the church’s identity. Bonhoeffer’s life and teachings come in three parts: discipleship, responsibility, and transformation. In each phase of his story, he challenges us to put our faith at the center of our lives. Part 1 Discipleship: Total commitment to every word of Christ Bonhoeffer started out as a pastor, theologian, and college professor, but he shifted course when the Nazis launched their brutal dictatorship in 1933. He left Germany and worked through ecumenical circles to try to warn the church around the world that Hitler was not just a political or military threat; he was a spiritual threat because his demands raised him up as an idol in opposition to God. Bonhoeffer argued that the Nazi regime’s insistence on allegiance to Hitler’s agenda even over conscience and faith was a threat to the very existence of genuine Christianity. In 1935, Bonhoeffer returned to Germany to begin training pastors in what was called the Confessing Church – those who resisted the Nazi regime’s efforts to unite all Protestant churches behind its persecution of Jews and pursuit of transnational domination. His seminary was eventually declared illegal and shut down by the Nazi government. In 1937, he published a book that captured the content of the lectures he gave as he prepared pastors to serve in the Confessing Church. The book never specifically mentions Hitler or what was going on in Germany at the time, but it speaks clearly of the coming persecution and explains what living a life that is fully committed to Christ must look like. The book was titled Nachfolge , German for “Discipleship,” but the English translation was called The Cost of Discipleship . It is most famous for its analysis of the difference between “cheap grace” and “costly grace.” Cheap grace is the belief that, because Jesus died for our sins, it doesn’t matter whether we obey His commandments since we have already been forgiven and justified by His death. Cheap grace is “grace without discipleship, grace without the cross” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship , originally published in 1937 in German as Nachfolge ; English revised and unabridged edition published by The Macmillan Company, 1963, p. 47). Costly grace calls us to take up our cross and follow in the way of Christ. Costly grace means we accept and embrace a “single-minded obedience to the word of Christ” (p. 88). Costly grace places the teachings of Jesus first in every aspect of life. When any part of the Church expects little of its members other than an hour on Sunday and a statement of faith — whether that statement is a creed or a “sinner’s prayer” – it has fallen sway to “cheap grace.” But there is far more in Bonhoeffer’s book, and even people who take their faith seriously might be uncomfortable with the severity and absolutism of his approach. For example, according to Bonhoeffer, Jesus’s directive to the rich young man to sell everything and give the money to the poor applies to all of us. When Jesus says that the person who calls someone a fool is in danger of going to hell (Matthew 5:22), Bonhoeffer says Jesus means it literally. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, that means we must do good to them, not just pray for them, because love is not love if it does not take action. When we are mistreated, Bonhoeffer echoes Jesus in saying we are to relinquish our personal rights by turning the other cheek and must never respond to violence with violence. All of Jesus’s teachings are to be taken literally, Bonhoeffer tells us. If we take Jesus’s commands figuratively – as commands intended only for a limited number of people or as aspirational goals that we don’t think God expects us to fully obey – we risk falling into the cheap grace that is no real commitment to Jesus at all. Bonhoeffer argues that, since Christ became one with us in the Incarnation, He is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives. In every interaction we have with other people, Christ is there. He “stands in the center between my neighbor and myself” (p. 112). Since all of our dealings with other people also include Christ, we must embrace the way of the cross, the way of reconciliation, the way of love even for our enemy, in every interaction. That is what it means to love others as He loves us. That is why “any attack even on the least of men is an attack on Christ, who took the form of man, and in his own Person, restored the image of God in all that bears a human form” (p. 341). Since every person is made in the image of God, we must treat every person with love. We “recover our true humanity” when we “retrieve our solidarity with the whole human race” (p. 341). We are called to recognize the connection we have with all other people because that is what Christ did. This call to be like Christ does not apply only to saints or pastors. This discipleship, Bonhoeffer insists, is for all of us. All are called to obey. Reflecting on Bonhoeffer’s call to discipleship Bonhoeffer’s teachings raise many challenging questions. We might ask ourselves: Is the church too willing to let people slide by with cheap grace rather than confronting them with a gospel that demands total commitment? When are the teachings of Jesus (for example, to sell all you have, don’t insult others, turn the other cheek, love your enemy, etc.) meant to be taken literally as absolute commands? Does Jesus want all of us to do all of these things all the time? How are we to respond to these teachings of Jesus? How would our lives be different if we lived them in “solidarity with the whole human race,” as Jesus chose to live in solidarity with us? Who would we need to embrace or include as one of “us” if we were to adopt this solidarity with others as a guiding principle? Part 2 The movie Bonhoeffer (Angel Studios, 2024) tells us that the pacifist Dietrich Bonhoeffer chose to get involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler, but it does little to explore the conflicting feelings Bonhoeffer had. He saw clear spiritual risks in this decision and sought to stay true to the suffering Christ. Responsibility: Free people face difficult choices in this world Bonhoeffer sought to train pastors in an underground seminary as Hitler was consolidating and extending his power in the 1930s. Bonhoeffer’s book The Cost of Discipleship , which is based on his lectures at that time, insists that a life of total dedication to Christ will be resisted by those opposed to Christ and will be met with persecution. To be persecuted is to share in the cross of Christ. Those who suffer martyrdom enter fully into the cross of Christ and live with Him forever in glory. When Bonhoeffer’s safety appeared to be in jeopardy, his friends abroad convinced him to leave Germany. But he soon decided that if he did not join in the suffering of his fellow Christians in Germany, he could not legitimately be part of the rebuilding that he knew would be necessary once Hitler was gone. So he returned to Germany. He was arrested in 1943, imprisoned for two years, and ultimately was hanged shortly before the Allies defeated the Third Reich. The reason why Bonhoeffer was arrested is surprising. For a while, Bonhoeffer worked as a double agent, ostensibly working for German intelligence while also working for the German Resistance. Some of his family members were part of a unit in the Resistance that developed a plot to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer supported that effort. The plot failed, but Bonhoeffer’s role in the Resistance was discovered and he was arrested on April 5, 1943. In 1937, Bonhoeffer had taught that violence was never acceptable for a Christian. He had written: “If I am assailed, I am not to condone or justify aggression. . . . Suffering willingly endured is stronger than evil. . . . There is no deed on earth so outrageous as to justify a different attitude. The worse the evil, the readier must the Christian be to suffer; he must let the evil person fall into Jesus’ hands [i.e., leave the response to Jesus and not take matters into one’s own hands]” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship , originally published in 1937 in German as Nachfolge ; English revised and unabridged edition published by The Macmillan Company, 1963, p. 158-159). But as he saw the enormity of the evil being done under the Third Reich – which was killing millions of Jews and other innocent people and undermining the basic tenets of Christianity by not allowing seminaries or churches to operate if they resisted Hitler’s program – he gradually became convinced that violence was necessary in order to rid Germany of Hitler. I asked Kurt Kreibohm, a retired pastor and tour guide at the Dietrich Bonhoeffer House in Berlin about this seeming contradiction. He acknowledged the contradiction and said that Bonhoeffer agonized over it. Bonhoeffer struggled with the idea that what he was doing was a sin (indicating that he still believed what he had written previously); yet he believed the assassination attempt was necessary to prevent the killing of millions of additional people. He put himself in the hands of God, believing that his participation in the plot was worthy of God’s judgment against him even though he believed it was necessary. In 1942, a few months before he was arrested, Bonhoeffer wrote a Christmas letter to his co-conspirators. In that letter, he discusses the need for Germans to exercise “the free responsibility of the free man,” a responsibility that is “founded in a God who calls for the free venture of faith to responsible action and who promises forgiveness and consolation to the one who on account of such action becomes a sinner” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison , Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works – Reader’s Edition, Fortress Press, 2015, pp. 7-8). Bonhoeffer’s thinking has evolved in the five years since he wrote The Cost of Discipleship . Now, he sees that the need to make concrete decisions in difficult situations presents ethical challenges, and he underscores our responsibility for the actions we choose. He does not take lightly the possibility that he will make wrong choices as he exercises the free responsibility God has given him. At the same time, he believes that God will extend forgiveness and grace to him when he falls short. But it is not cheap grace. The hope of grace comes with an understanding that we are not making decisions merely to suit our own desires; we are accountable to God because God has made us “co-responsible for the shaping of history” (p. 8). He goes on to say: “I believe that even our mistakes and shortcomings are not in vain and that it is no more difficult for God to deal with them than with our supposedly good deeds. I believe that God . . . waits for and responds to simple prayer and responsible actions” (p. 13). We are still called to live our lives fully for God. While he is in prison, Bonhoeffer writes to his best friend Eberhard Bethge about “the profound this-worldliness of Christianity” ( Letters and Papers from Prison , p. 471). Looking back on his life, he writes: I thought I myself could learn to have faith by trying to live something like a saintly life. I suppose I wrote Discipleship at the end of this path. Today I clearly see the dangers of that book, though I stand by it. Later on I discovered, and am still discovering to this day, that one only learns to have faith by living in the full this-worldliness of life. . . . [O]ne throws oneself completely into the arms of God, and this is what I call this-worldliness: living fully in the midst of life’s tasks, questions, successes and failures, experiences, and perplexities – then one takes seriously no longer one’s own sufferings but rather the suffering of God in the world. Then one stays awake with Christ in Gethsemane. And I think this is faith; this is metanoia. ( Letters and Papers from Prison , p. 472) Bonhoeffer’s understanding of faith shifted over time, from seeking to avoid evil to seeking to embrace Christ in the complexities of life in the real world. But he remained focused on pursuing a life wholly identified with the suffering Christ. Reflecting on Bonhoeffer’s call to take the risk of engaging in this world Bonhoeffer is not the only person of faith who has sensed a call to move from saintly separation to a riskier involvement in the world. The challenges Bonhoeffer faced remain relevant to us today: In what ways are we called to embrace difficult choices in a messy world, rather than staying in our safe and saintly enclaves? How can we maintain our commitment to total discipleship to the suffering Christ – to a life lived wholly for God – as we grapple with difficult situations that challenge our previous understandings of how to live the life of faith? How do we embrace the “this-worldliness” of life, as Jesus did while He was on earth, yet stay focused on God? Part 3 The movie Bonhoeffer (Angel Studios, 2024) fails to capture the depth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s faith. His commitment to live fully for Christ is much clearer in his real life than in the film. Transformation: Living “as Christ” in all circumstances Dietrich Bonhoeffer began his pastoral life with zeal in the 1930s, calling all people to a severe adherence to every word of Christ – the life of “costly grace.” Confronted with the enormity of evil in the agenda of Hitler and the Third Reich, Bonhoeffer joined the German Resistance, which led to his arrest and the final phase of his remarkable life. In prison, Bonhoeffer was an enormous force for good. Fellow prisoners found strength and hope because of his encouragement. Even prison guards were impressed by him and helped in the effort to smuggle his prison writings out to the world. Some of the prayers he wrote in prison have circulated widely in the decades since then. Bonhoeffer’s 1937 book The Cost of Discipleship spells out his rigorous commitment to following every teaching of Christ: sell all, turn the other cheek, love your enemy. He urges us to recognize that in every interaction with every other person, Christ is standing between us and them, so we must love every other person. This is what it means to live as a disciple of Christ. Late in the book, Bonhoeffer takes another step. He suggests that in Romans 8:29, where Saint Paul calls us to be “conformed to the image of [God’s] Son,” he is calling us to become “as Christ” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship , originally published in 1937 in German as Nachfolge ; English revised and unabridged edition published by The Macmillan Company, 1963, p. 337). “That image,” Bonhoeffer explains, “has the power to transform our lives, and if we surrender ourselves utterly to him, we cannot help bearing his image ourselves. We become sons of God, we stand side by side with Christ, our unseen Brother, bearing like him the image of God” (p. 337). In prison, Bonhoeffer presented a living example of what he had taught in his book. To those around him, he became a living image of Christ. He had called us to live “as Christ.” He had tried to live wholly for Christ in the jaws of the Third Reich. Now, he brought the presence of Christ into each of the four prisons and concentration camps he was detained in before his execution. In his 1942 Christmas letter to members of the Resistance with whom he worked, Bonhoeffer had described the perspective he had gained as he worked to put his faith into action in the real world: “It remains an experience of incomparable value that we have for once learned to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcasts, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed and reviled, in short from the perspective of the suffering” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison , Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works – Reader’s Edition, Fortress Press, 2015, pp. 20). He asserts that “personal suffering is a more useful key, a more fruitful principle than personal happiness for exploring the meaning of the world in contemplation and action” (p.20). That solidarity with those who suffer prepared him to be a light of grace and hope to those in prison. Bonhoeffer ends The Cost of Discipleship with a description of the goal of discipleship. The goal, he says, is not to be a perfect rule-follower, even though obeying Christ is a primary mark of a disciple. Discipleship is not about rules for their own sake; it is about living in an intimate relationship with the One who showed us how to live. Bonhoeffer ends his book this way: “If we are conformed to his image in his Incarnation and crucifixion, we shall also share the glory of His resurrection. . . . “We shall be drawn into his image, and identified with his form, and become a reflection of him. That reflection of his glory will shine forth in us even in this life, even as we share his agony and bear his cross. . . . “This is what we mean when we speak of Christ dwelling in our hearts. His life is not finished yet, for he continues to live in the lives of his followers. . . . “The Holy Trinity himself has made his dwelling in the Christian heart, filling his whole being, and transforming him into the divine image” ( The Cost of Discipleship , p. 343). Discipleship means allowing God to live in us, fill us with Himself, and transform us into His image, an image that was placed in each of us before we were born. God gives us freedom and the responsibility to use it to the best of our ability to lives as images of Christ. We do this by embracing the cross of Christ and extending the love of Christ to all, including those who are maltreated and rejected by others – loving all as Jesus did. Our calling is to become wholly like Him. In his writings and in his life, Dietrich Bonhoeffer sought to present a life of total devotion to Christ. The same invitation is made to all of us, because Christ came so that He might dwell in the heart of every person who embraces Him. Reflecting on Bonhoeffer’s call to be transformed into the image of Christ Dietrich Bonhoeffer was not the first person to recognize God’s grand plan: to transform us into the image of Christ. We find his story valuable partly because the times in which he lived were not ideal for trying to live a life wholly devoted to Christ. He faced difficult choices. We honor him not because he necessarily always made the “right” choices, but because he always sought to put God first. How he responded to his times raises provocative questions for us in our own faith lives: If we live “as Christ,” who loves everyone else with the same love with which He loves us, how might that change how we view and interact with other people? In what ways does the idea of becoming a living image of Christ attract you? . . . intrigue you? . . . scare you? To what extent are you willing to say yes to becoming a living image of Christ? How might seeing events from below, from the perspective of those who are outcasts or suffering, help you live as a reflection of Christ in the world? What is the next step God is calling you to take, to help you be transformed into His image and to be a clearer reflection of Christ in your world? In every phase of his life, Dietrich Bonhoeffer sought to live in a manner that was totally committed to the suffering Christ and filled with concern for all who suffer. He encouraged everyone else to do the same. May his desire to fully live “as Christ” be our goal as well. Copyright © 2024, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com . See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page

Christian Faith How do we live the Christian faith? Putting our faith into action The life of a follower of Christ is an adventure. Each of us has a unique mind, body, and spirit , character, abilities, and circumstances , and Jesus embraces us in the fullness of who we are. Through the working of the Holy Spirit in us, God wants to help each of us, individually and together – every day, all the time – to become more fully like Jesus and to participate in His work to transform the world. Where do you need to grow? In what ways can you take a step closer to God? Pick a topic and dive in! Articles on Faith and the Christian Life Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Discipleship, Responsibility, Transformation Many seek to use him for their own cause, but few want to embrace his total commitment to Christ. Look for the Perspective that Allows You to See Joy Your attitude determines what is a “win.” Reconciliation Can Start with a Gesture What is the small gesture or action you could take? God Reveals Himself in Scripture and in the Natural World, through Faith and Science God teaches us through faith and science. The Rapture? It’s Not a Pre-Millennial Escape from Tribulation Pre-tribulation theories contradict Jesus and Paul. What does the Bible actually say? Upcoming Topics Christian Living Christian Faith Issues Action Attitude Death Encouraging Others Humor Integrity Joy Money Prayer Suffering Thanks Words You Speak Bible Church Following Jesus God's Love God's Will Holy Spirit Art Creation Evolution Justice Science Truth Want to see more? If there is nothing posted on a topic listed above, it means my explorations are not yet ready for publication. If you would like to encourage a higher priority for a topic, or would like to see a topic explored further, send me a note [hyperlink to contact form] explaining what you are interested in and why it should be a priority. If you would like to encourage the development of specific material or express your gratitude for what is here, please feel free to make a financial contribution to support the development of the website, but a contribution is not required. The main thing is to offer a convincing case that the topic you are interested in should be a priority as material is added to the website. If you are a member (click here to join) and would like to start a conversation by posting a question in the forum , please do so. Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page

Welcome to Faith Explored! What is Faith Explored? Faith Explored is a virtual community for people interested in exploring how to apply God’s Word to our lives today. Our mission is to help each person understand God’s Word and put it into action in their lives. To achieve this goal, we seek to help people: increase their understanding of the Bible ; explore how we can apply God’s Word to our lives today; embrace the adventure of living our lives for God, in our unique individual lives and in communion with others; and identify concrete ways we can work for justice and change the world as we are inspired, transformed, and empowered by Jesus. We welcome people of all faiths in this exploration. We believe that everyone can benefit from studying how the Bible applies to our lives. While our approach is decidedly Christian (and Catholics, evangelicals, and Pentecostals can all be comfortable here), we believe that we can learn from others even as they may learn from us. How Faith Explored got started Faith Explored grew out of Tom Faletti’s quest to bring to a wider audience what he has developed in more than 40 years of small-group Bible Study. When we meet in small groups for Bible Study, we seek to provide a place where people can increase their understanding of the Bible, learn how to put their faith into action through the application of God’s Word, and experience Christian community. While Faith Explored is a virtual network rather than an in-person faith group, we hope Faith Explored will also promote understanding of God's Word, foster spiritual growth, and provide a supportive community for people interested in exploring their faith. Who is Tom Faletti? I am a native of California. In 1976, I investigated the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead and therefore was not just a great man, concluded that Jesus is God, and gave my life to Him. I entered into a personal relationship with God and promised to serve Him the rest of my life. Having been raised a Catholic, I remained in my church and started working to expand understanding of the Scriptures to anyone who was open. I also led programs with evangelical Christians and people in the charismatic renewal, and learned how to present the truth of God’s Word in ways that can help people of all backgrounds grow in faith. That is why, even though I remain deeply involved in my local Catholic parish, Faith Explored should be a comfortable place for people from any denomination. I graduated from Stanford University and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley. I also earned a Graduate Certificate in Catholic Theology from St. Joseph’s College of Maine. My work life included 3 years of service as the youth minister in the parish church I grew up in; 24 years of service on Capitol Hill, where I worked to expand access to health and nutrition programs and improve the lives of everyday people; and 13 years as an award-winning high school teacher. I have been a committed follower of Jesus since 1976; a Bible Study leader for nearly 40 years; and an advocate for truth with a passion for justice all my life. I live in Washington, DC, with my wife (and best friend) Sonia. We have been happily married for more than 40 years and have 3 adult children. My life is guided by a commitment to faith, family, kindness and respect, the truth, and responding to the call issued to every person that “You Can Change Your World!” Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page

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Previous Next Introduction Coming in January 2025. Image by David Tomaseti, provided by Unsplash via Wix. Tom Faletti Coming in January 2025. Copyright © 2024, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com . See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page

Previous Next Bibliography Bibliography of major sources and additional sources used in this study of Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thess.). Image from Wix. Tom Faletti December 13, 2024 Major Sources Barclay, William. The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians . The Westminster Press, Revised Edition, 1975. Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament . New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1997. Collins, Raymond F. “1 Thessalonians.” The New Jerome Biblical Commentary . Edited by Raymond E. Brown, et al. Prentice Hall, 1990. Cousins, Peter E. “1 Thessalonians.” The International Bible Commentary: With the New International Version . F.F. Bruce, General Editor. Marshall Pickering/Zondervan, 1986. Demarest, Gary W. 1, 2 Thessalonians; 1, 2 Timothy; and Titus . The Communicator’s Commentary (Mastering the New Testament) , Lloyd J. Ogilvie, general editor. Word Books, 1984. Havener, Ivan, OSB. 1 Thessalonians . Collegeville Bible Commentary, The Liturgical Press, 1983. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament, Revised Standard Edition, Second Catholic Edition . Ignatius Press, 2010. Interlinear Bible. Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/interlinear/ . The International Bible Commentary: With the New International Version . F.F. Bruce, General Editor. Marshall Pickering/Zondervan, 1986. Liddell, Henry George and Robert Scott . A Greek-English Lexicon . Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1940. Internet Archive , Volume I: https://archive.org/details/b31364949_0001/mode/2up , Volume II: https://archive.org/details/b31364949_0002/mode/2up . Also at Furman Classics Editions, http://folio2.furman.edu/lsj/ . New American Bible, revised edition (NABRE) . Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2010. Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary . Edited by Raymond E. Brown, et al. Prentice Hall, 1990. The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version: With the Apocrypha: An Ecumenical Study Bible . Eds. Michael D. Coogan, Marc Z. Brettler, Carol A. Newsom, and Pheme Perkins. 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2010. New Revised Standard Version Bible , copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance . Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/greek/21.htm . Vine, William E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary , 1940, StudyLight.org , https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/ved.html . Additional Sources Bandy, Alan S. “Views of the Millennium.” The Gospel Coalition , https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/views-of-the-millennium/ , accessed 2 Dec. 2024. Broussard, Karlo. “Meeting the Rapture Challenge.” Catholic Answers , 14 Sept. 2022, https://www.catholic.com/audio/caf/meeting-the-rapture-challenge . Catechism of the Catholic Church. Second Edition. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica . United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 1997. https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/ . Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. “The ‘End Times’: A Study on Eschatology and Millennialism.” Sept. 1989. The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod , https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/xpajTThI2GXvV6Z53A1KZfZjWhkR00CS . Francis, Pope. “No Fear: Morning Meditation in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae,” 15 May 2015. L’Osservatore Romano , Weekly ed. in English, n. 21, 22 May 2015. The Vatican , http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/cotidie/2015/documents/papa-francesco-cotidie_20150515_no-fear.html . Horn, Trent. “‘Should Catholics Believe in “the Rapture’?” Catholic Answers , 4 Aug. 2021, https://www.catholic.com/audio/cot/should-catholics-believe-in-the-rapture . Martin, George. “Paul: Apostle of the Cities.” God’s Word Today , February 1981 (Vol. 3, No. 2), pp. 47-49. “Where does the Rapture fit into UM beliefs?” Produced by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications. United Methodist Church , 8 Aug. 2019, https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-where-does-the-rapture-fit-into-united-methodists-beliefs . Copyright © 2024, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com . See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page

Previous Next Jubilee Year 2025: Embrace God’s Hope and Extend It to All A Note About Our Terminology What do we mean when we refer to a “part of a paragraph”? Link to S pes Non Confundit Photo by Tom Faletti, bridge near Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau, Germany, June 27, 2024. Tom Faletti November 16, 2024 Church documents are often broken up into numbered paragraphs to aid in finding particular passages. This document follows that norm in having numbered paragraphs. However, in many places in Spes Non Confundit , one numbered “paragraph” extends over several paragraphs as we normally understand the meaning of that term. When this study guide says, “paragraph X,” it is referring to the paragraph that has the number X in front of it – for example , “paragraph 3” refers to the paragraph that has the number 3 in front of it . When a “paragraph” (as church documents count them) has more than one standard paragraph (as we normally understand a paragraph to be), this guide refers to those additional paragraphs as additional “parts” of that numbered “paragraph.” For example, the “second part of paragraph 3” refers to the second paragraph in the portion of the document that follows the number 3 and comes before the paragraph numbered paragraph 4 . Similarly, the “fourth part of paragraph 6” is the fourth regular paragraph that comes after the number 6 (and before the number 7). Bibliography Click here for the bibliography . Copyright © 2024, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com . See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page

Previous Next Jubilee Year 2025: Embrace God’s Hope and Extend It to All Session 7: A life anchored in hope, part 2 God’s judgment; indulgence and Penance; the Mother of God; hope as an anchor. (Read paragraphs 22-25) Link to S pes Non Confundit Photo by Tom Faletti, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, November 4, 2024. Tom Faletti November 16, 2024 God loves us so much that even God’s judgment is not to be feared for those who seek to follow God. That is the message of the final paragraphs of Spes Non Confundit , where Pope Francis encourages us to live a life anchored in hope. Although we face God’s judgment at the end of our lives, our salvation has been won by Jesus even though we may need to be purified before living forever with God. Here, Pope Francis explains the role of the indulgences that are offered during the Jubilee Year. All of this leads to his final point, that our hope in God allows us to approach God with confidence. Our study guide questions will help us explore Jesus’s criteria for the Last Judgment, the effects of sin and how we might overcome those effects, how Jesus’s mother Mary is a role model, and how the way we live our lives can bring hope to others. We are on a journey where we can make a difference in the lives of others, not just ourselves! Read paragraphs 22-25 in preparation for this session. Paragraph 22 (God’s judgment) 🔗 In paragraph 22, Pope Francis looks squarely at the reality that we will all be judged by God. Read 1 John 4:8-16 According to John, how do we know that God loves us? According to John, how can we abide or live in God’s love? Read Matthew 25:31-46 What are the criteria by which God will judge us at the Last Judgment? How are you currently active in some form of service to others in need, or how might you take a step forward into service? Suggested Activities: Get involved in the work of a soup kitchen or food pantry in your community. Help a crisis pregnancy center as it seeks to provide the most basic needs of newborns in your area: cribs, diapers, baby food, clothes, etc. Talk with a homeless person you encounter on the street. Reach out to a stranger who is new to your neighborhood or parish and welcome them. Practice putting on new eyes that see the people in need who are normally invisible to most of us as we live our busy and distracted lives. Read Wisdom 12:19-22 According to Wisdom 12:19, why is repentance an important step toward hope? What does receiving mercy from God (Wisdom 12:22) mean to you? What does it look like? In the second part of paragraph 22, Pope Francis tells us that we need to be “purified” in order to have “a definitive encounter with the Lord.” What does he mean by “purified”? How does Pope Francis connect this to our prayers for those who have died? Suggested Activity: Pray for those who have died, that God may purify them for eternal life. Paragraph 23 (indulgence and the sacrament of Penance) 🔗 In the multiple parts of paragraph 23, Pope Francis explains the Church’s teaching on indulgence and how it is different from the forgiveness of sins we receive in the sacrament of Penance. Read Psalm 103:3-4, 8, 10-12 What do these verses of Psalm 103 tell us about what happens when we confess our sins? What does this psalm tell us about God’s mercy and what God does with our sins? In the second part of paragraph 23, how does Pope Francis describe the purpose and effects of the sacrament of Penance? The Jubilee Year offers a special indulgence for those who participate fully in its practices. A separate Vatican document issued in May 2024 summarizes the indulgence as follows: “All the faithful, who are truly repentant and free from any affection for sin (cf. Enchiridion Indulgentiarum , IV ed., norm. 20, § 1), who are moved by a spirit of charity and who, during the Holy Year, purified through the sacrament of penance and refreshed by Holy Communion, pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, will be able to obtain from the treasury of the Church a plenary indulgence, with remission and forgiveness of all their sins” ( Decree on the Granting of the Indulgence During the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 Called by His Holiness Pope Francis ). This indulgence can be applied to souls in Purgatory if certain requirements are met. In the third part of paragraph 23, what does Pope Francis mean when he says that every sin “leaves its mark,” and what does the Jubilee indulgence do? In the fourth part of paragraph 23, what does Pope Francis say about forgiving others? Why should the experience of receiving forgiveness from God lead us to forgive others? Suggested Activities: Go to confession and confess your sins to God. Where appropriate, reach out to those you have hurt and ask their forgiveness. Forgive someone who has done something wrong to you. Practice seeing others as God sees them and extend to them the grace and forgiveness that God extends to you. Paragraph 24 (the Mother of God) 🔗 Read Luke 2:25-38 What did Simeon say about Jesus? How does he describe Jesus in his prayer? In verses 34-35, Simeon tells Mary that she will suffer, but he says more than that. How might his words have been an encouragement to her to have hope? Pope Francis presents Mary as the supreme example of hope and notes that the 500th anniversary of her appearance as Our Lady of Guadalupe is near. How have Mary’s appearances throughout history encouraged people who are suffering to have hope? How is Mary an example of hope for you? Suggested Activities: Pray the Magnificat and connect with Mary’s hope and trust in God. Use the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as a way to contemplate Mary’s hope-filled approach to life; then seek to follow her model of willingness to submit to God’s will. Paragraph 25 (hope as an anchor) 🔗 Read Hebrews 6:17-20 Why do you think Hebrews 6:17-20 calls hope an “anchor” for our souls? In the second part of paragraph 25, Pope Francis explains why he thinks the image of an anchor is so appropriate. What metaphor does he use to show how hope is an anchor? How is hope an anchor for your life? In the third part of paragraph 25, Pope Francis suggests that our hope in God can affect our work “in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation” – in other words, in every facet of our lives, sacred and secular. How can we bring our hope in God into parts of society that are not explicitly “spiritual”? How can we put our hope in God into action to care for the environment and the Earth? In the final part of paragraph 25, Pope Francis says, “May the way we live our lives” encourage others to have hope. What is one thing you can do, in the way you live your life, that might spread hope to others? Suggested Activity: Go through an examination of conscience or examen. Use it to try to detect areas of your life where you need to make adjustments so that your life spreads hope and the love of God to others. Act on your discoveries. Conclusion Looking back over this entire study of Spes Non Confundit , what do you think God wants you to take from this study and put into practice in your life? What adjustments might God want you to make in how you think , to more fully anchor your life in the hope that comes from God? How might God want you to adjust the things you say , so that your words communicate clearly your hope in God? How might God want you to make changes in the things you do , so that your hope in God leads to actions that benefit the world around you? What is one thing you might do to help extend God’s hope to the poor, the sick, the young, the elderly, migrants, refugees, or prisoners? End this study with a prayer, asking God to empower you to ground your life ever more fully in God’s hope and effectively extend that hope to others in service and love. Copyright © 2024, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com . See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Join Faith Explored and Join the Conversation! If you are a member of Faith Explored (click here to join) and would like to react to or ask a question about any material here, please post a question in the forum or send an email using the Contact form at the bottom of the page. Use these links to become a member and join the conversation: Become a Member Forum Page Blog Page