November 10th .  For many young people confirmation is a like a church-leaving certificate.  They may go back from time to time but often they have not yet found a deep spiritual meaning for themselves.   They’ve lost the plot or lost their faith.  At a dark moment in his life Jock was invited to participate in a youth camp.  He decided to go for the jol but during the course of the camp, speaking to one of the spiritual counsellors it struck him, that God wasn’t just out there somewhere, but right here in this group.  That was a rediscovery for him. 

Scripture:  The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, “Behold here it is! For behold the kingdom of God is in your midst.  Luke 17:20-25.  Pope Francis: hope speaks to us of something deeply rooted in every human heart, independently of our circumstances.  Hope speaks of a thirst, an aspiration, a longing for a life of fulfilment, a desire to achieve great things, that fill our heart, lift our spirit to lofty realities like truth, goodness, beauty, justice and love. FT55