Expectation is more than mere “wishful thinking.” When Jesus Christ is Lord of our life, our understanding of hope is transformed into a confident assurance rooted in faith and trust in God’s promises. This hope is not passive or unrealistic; instead, it is an active expectation that empowers us to navigate life’s challenges with the belief that God is in control and working for our good. By allowing Christ to be the centre of our lives, we embrace a hopeful outlook that motivates us to take action, encourages perseverance, and fosters a sense of peace, knowing that our ultimate future is secured in Him.

The Nativity, and it’s place at the heart of Christmas, transcends its commercialised modern interpretations by embodying the profound significance of hope and humility, rooted in the birth of Jesus Christ. This event, marked by the unexpected announcement to humble shepherds rather than societal elites, underscores a message of inclusion and divine grace.

Everlasting life, or abundant life, commences the instant we accept Christ as our Saviour and lasts for all of eternity. According to John 17:3, Jesus gives the
concept of life in the Bible, namely eternal life: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

The theme of spiritual predestination and resurrection, as seen in the broken wheel prophecy, played a crucial role in the foundation of Tuam and the growth of Irish Christianity.