But We Had Hoped… Yet Hope Lives

Mar Imsong

In the midst of global tensions, uncertainty, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, many around the world are quietly saying what the disciples once said on the road to Emmaus: “But we had hoped…” These are not just biblical words they are deeply human words. We hear these words in hospital rooms, in moments of financial strain, and in the quiet struggles of everyday life. And yet, the message of Easter meets us precisely there.

The road to Emmaus is a real disappointment but God does not wait for us at the destination. God meets us on the road. Even when hope feels fragile, Christ walks beside us often unrecognized, but fully present in companionship, in kindness, and in quiet strength.

The cross reminds us that God is not distant from suffering. The crucified Christ is present in the breaking, in the uncertainty, and in the unanswered questions of our lives. And the empty tomb stands as a bold protest against despair declaring that this is not the end, that darkness will not win, and that hope still lives.

Here in New England, as spring begins to unfold, we are surrounded by signs of resurrection. What once seemed lifeless begins to stir again. The soil softens. New life emerges. And we are reminded that hope often comes quietly not all at once, but enough to take the next step.

So even as we hold the pain of our world, we do so with faith. We pray that better days are ahead not because everything is resolved, but because Christ is risen and continues to walk with us. This Easter season may we not only hold onto hope but live it, embody it, and carry it into a world that longs to hear again: This is not the end.