Posted by George Morrison

The raised arch of the East link bridge over the river Liffey was only just wide enough to permit the new Samuel Beckett Bridge, built in Holland, to sail in on its barge. The new bridge, which is in the shape of a harp, has been designed to span the river linking the docklands area with the businesses on south bank. It was followed by the OM ship “Logos Hope” a converted ferry which plied between Denmark and the Faroe Islands for 30 years and in now used by Operation Mobilisation to bring educational and Christian literature, humanitarian aid and people resources to all nations as it visits ports around the world. The name Logos comes from the Greek for the word. Included in this is the meaning the word conveys. Its richest meaning comes when applied to Jesus. St John begins his Gospel establishing this connection at the outset. “In the beginning was the Word (LOGOS), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In case anyone was uncertain as to who the Apostle was referring he adds, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. In the Bible hope is more a confident expectancy in the effectiveness of the work of Jesus on our behalf. Perhaps we should allow St Peter to sum it up for us:- “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” The crew consists of born again believers from over 40 nations who raise their own support and enlist for a minimum of 2 years service. In its own way the bridge that preceded it into the estuary was symbolic of the ship. Logos Hope’s mission is to bring the message of how God spanned the gap between us and Himself effecting reconciliation with Him and with each other. So as St Peter would say – “put your faith and hope in God”.