Hoda Ameri
19 February 2025
This article is part of a series of reflections under Hope25, a national evangelism initiative that equips Anglicans to share their hope in Jesus. They aim to encourage us to have a sure and certain hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We encourage you to look out for these weekly reflections and share them in your parishes.
As refugees in a broken world, our lives often mirror the stories of those who walked by faith before us.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that, “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14). This longing for a home, one not explained by borders, walls, or nations, is central to the Christian journey.
Like Abraham, who obeyed God and left his homeland in search of a promise he could not yet see, we too have experienced displacement. As refugees, we left behind everything familiar: our language, culture, and the comfort of belonging. The journey was marked by uncertainty and loss, but in that wilderness, we encountered the unshakable hope of Christ. His promises became our anchor. We discovered that, in Him, we had a home that no earthly circumstance could take away.
This hope is not unique to refugees or exiles. Mary Magdalene’s story at the empty tomb reminds us that hope has the power to break into the darkest of moments. Mary cried outside the tomb; her heart broken by the loss of her Savior. But then, Jesus, the risen Christ called her by name. In that moment, her despair turned to joy, and her hope was no longer a distant dream but a living reality. The resurrection declares that Jesus has conquered sin and death, offering us a hope that is both eternal and unshakable.
Read more: Christianity ‘renews our culture’: Anglican Iranian ministers
This hope also sustains us as we step into our callings. For us, it means serving as ministers of the Gospel despite challenges. As a woman in ministry, I have had moments of wrestling with identity, belonging, and the courage to lead. Yet the same hope that sustained us in exile now empowers us in ministry. The resurrection assures us that Christ’s power is not bound by human limitations. His Spirit strengthens us to proclaim His truth, knowing that our ultimate identity is found in Him.
Through ministry, we have walked alongside others, refugees longing for home, including women searching for their place in God’s kingdom, and many burdened by sorrow. In every story, the message remains the same: in Christ, we are welcomed, loved, and made new. The empty tomb reminds us that no loss, displacement, or struggle can separate us from the hope found in Jesus.
As we journey toward the eternal city, the heavenly home promised to us, this hope calls us to action. We are invited to embrace the vulnerable, empower the overlooked, and proclaim the joy of the risen Christ. Just as Mary was sent to declare the good news, so we too are called to share this hope with a world longing for redemption.
Read more: Stepping out in hope
In the face of uncertainty, let us remember that we walk with a Savior who is alive, who knows us by name, and who redeems every part of our story. His resurrection assures us that God’s kingdom is advancing, and His promise of restoration is sure. As we fix our eyes on Him, may our lives reflect the hope of the empty tomb, a hope that overflows into the hearts of those around us. May the risen Christ fill us afresh with this hope, and may we live as citizens of the enduring city to come.
Reverend Hoda Ameri is a minister at the Emmanuel Iranian congregation in Reservoir. She and her husband the Reverend Kaveh Hassanzadeh are former refugees from Iran.
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