We hear today from St. Paul that, in our living and in our dying, “Thus we shall always be with the Lord.” St. Paul seems to think that the second coming of Christ will happen in his lifetime, but two millennia later, only the most fervent among us actually expect to be raptured. But the hope I glean from all of today’s readings is that the Holy Spirit is here, truly with us, moving among us, close at hand. This holy hope pulls us up when we fall down and mends us when we feel broken. But our soul’s comfort often comes from our community, from those who believe and grieve with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Hope is the word for today.