# Moving Toward the Future: Hope, Signs, and Compassion
*2018-12-04*

> Bill reflects on unexpected signs, a broken rosary, and the Advent reading for December 5, exploring how hope moves us toward future encounters with God and a call to compassion for the hungry.

## Technical Hiccups and a Broken Rosary

I began by apologizing for the delay—my desktop monitor died, my laptop acted up, and I had to borrow my son’s screen to record. While sorting out the tech issues, I noticed my rosary from Israel had lost its crucifix. The missing cross prompted me to wonder what to do with a rosary that isn’t complete.

## Signs of the Trinity in Everyday Life

Since receiving the rosary, I’ve kept seeing three‑leaf patterns that seem to form a triangle—a symbol of the Trinity. These appeared on a picture of the Divine Mercy, in my garage, at an open‑air mall, and repeatedly in churches where I helped place Legion of Mary rosaries. Each time I felt a quiet inner voice urging me not to worry about the leaves, reminding me that the real value lies in the people around me.

## The Advent Reading: Hope That Moves Forward

The day’s reflection comes from the Advent booklet *Christ Comes Anew*, focusing on Isaiah 25:6‑10a and Matthew 15:29‑37. The Gospel recounts Jesus feeding the multitudes with five loaves and two fish, an act of compassion rather than mere pity. The reflection reminds us that Christian hope looks forward, trusting that God’s future promises guide us toward becoming the persons we have yet to be.

## A Prayer for the Hungry

Moved by the reading, I prayed for the starving people of Venezuela and other South American nations. I asked the Lord to inspire us to act—perhaps by organizing food drops or mobilizing local churches—to turn the miracle of loaves and fish into a concrete response to modern hunger.

## Putting the Rosary on the Divine Mercy Image

I eventually placed the cross‑less rosary on my Divine Mercy picture, seeing it as a sign that the future does not require the physical cross we associate with Christ’s death. Rather, the Holy Spirit’s presence guides us now, and the hope of Christ’s return invites us to live with compassion today.

*Hope propels us forward, turning signs and small gestures into a call to love and serve those in need.*