Imagine being one of Jesus’ disciples, hearing him say he would be killed. Peter had just proclaimed him as the Christ of God, and Jesus confirmed it. They had seen his power—he could raise the dead—but only through prayer to the Father. It hadn’t yet entered their minds that Jesus himself was divine, capable of raising the Son of Man. So, when he foretold his death, their hope nearly vanished. They had great faith in him, but couldn’t imagine how life could continue after he was gone.

We face similar moments today. The world feels heavy with suffering, and sometimes our personal lives unravel. We ask, “How can we recover from this?” That’s what today’s readings say–to hope.

In the first reading, Haggai offers comfort to Zerubbabel: “One moment yet, a little while…” God will shake the heavens and restore his house greater than before. And in the Gospel, Jesus promises that he will be raised on the third day.

Saint Peter Julian Eymard’s story in Tomorrow Will Be Too Late echoes this theme. In 1857, while awaiting Rome’s approval of his new congregation, he was told to find a new location. His only companion briefly left him, and Eymard admitted to crying for the first time during the crisis. Yet he never stopped praying before the Blessed Sacrament. Months later, reconciliation came, and his small congregation found a home.

Hope isn’t passive—it’s a choice to trust in God’s promise even when the path is unclear. Like the disciples, like Eymard, we are called to hold on, knowing resurrection always follows the cross.

Let Us Pray:

When the just cry out, the Lord hears and rescues them from all distress. The Lord is close to the broken hearted says those whose spirit is crushed. Many are the troubles of the just, but the Lord delivers them all. (Psalm 34)