Promise of eternal salvation through Christ is catalyst for hope

By Greg Zambrano
NOLA Catholic Parenting

When we are hoping for a better tomorrow and a new year, we should hope in Christ because he will never let us down. Jesus Christ is the true source of peace, tranquility and perfect love for the entire world.

To remind myself of this, I picture the image of the Infant Jesus of Prague, dressed like a king. In his left hand, he holds the entire world. The world has a cross on top signifying that it is his – Jesus is King of Glory.

“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. Christ’s promises of salvation are the hope to all humanity” – Psalm 146:3.

At times, my 9-year-old will ask if she may watch television after her homework is done. Usually, I allow it, but after one episode or maybe two, I usually tell her that she’s seen enough and should turn off the TV and switch to a different activity. Most of the time, she draws, plays with toys or enjoys arts and crafts.

If it were up to her, she would probably watch many hours of “Good Luck Charlie” and “Dog with a Blog.” For a young, developing mind, limiting TV and external influences helps achieve better grades in mathematics, science and English.

When I was her age in the late 1980s, early 1990s, that was not the case for me. Often after arriving home from school, I’d turn on the TV for “Tom & Jerry,” “Bugs Bunny,” “Transformers” and “GI Joe” cartoons. Time would just fly by watching my favorite cartoons. Then, I would remember that I needed to get homework done.

When I got older, things did not change much. Instead of cartoons, it was MTV and the latest music videos. When report cards came around, I knew too much TV and minimal time studying were the reasons for my lack of A’s and B’s.

Much later in life, I understood that focusing on things like good grades was not as vital as focusing on the eternal. Losing focus, no matter what the subject, is a problem.

While inputs and devices attract our focus and give us comfort and pleasure, they also impart earthly opinions from many sources.

This reminds me of the parable of the sower from the Gospel of Mark 4:3-5: “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.”

My conscience leads me to beg the Lord to not let me fall along the path or on rocky ground.

Sometimes, we can’t change world crises, national events or personal events and turmoil that cause loss of sleep. Family struggles and personal grief are often the thorns of this world that hurt the most.

In the midst of all afflictions and adversities, we should always surrender to God. May the focus on Christ keep us planted on the things eternal. His promise is eternal.

That is my secret. There is no greater hope in this world and especially in the next: The promises made by Christ of eternal salvation.

Remembering words from the rosary, “Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”

Jesus has given us many promises that ultimately lead to our salvation. Jesus, model of virtue, will never go back on his promises. This is the pure source of our Christian joy.

Greg Zambrano and his wife have been married for 19 years and have two daughters who attend Catholic school. They attend Mass on Saturday at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Shrine on State Street.