small seed of hope

Thursday November 26^th, John 18: 33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"  I imagine Pilates voice to be half mocking, half wondering, and yet with a hint of hope.  In the midst of our mocking and wondering at the prospect of peace in this world, are we too are filled with just a bit of hope?  Hope that the message of Jesus is true.  Hope that the forgiveness of sins is true.  Hope that the gift of grace, the forgiveness of sins and life eternal, is true.  Hope!!  Are you the one, Pilate asks?  There is a part of each one of us that wonders and asks the same question.  But also within us, in the very core of our being there is the small seed of hope that yells out, YES!!!!!  And that gives us a reason to live.