This years' feast of the Sacred Heart picked the latest encyclical of Pope Benedict IV, Spe Salvi, as its point for reflections. I had actually read it months ago, but for the purpose of relating it to the devotion to the Sacred Heart, I read it again. Just like the first encyclical, Pope Benedict continues to fascinate me with his deep reflections on his subject. The things he wrote were basically not new, at least to me. However, the way he covered all angles of the subject was very scholarly and thorough.
Our existence here on earth is adorned with many kinds of hope. We hope to be healthy. We hope to have a good job. We hope to win games, elections, contests, and others. In many cases, our hopes are confined to our concerns in this world. The problem with that is, what happens after our life? If our hope is just limited to things of the earth, then it is a limited hope. Or more accurately, a frustrated hope. We will want our lives to be prolonged as long as our bodies can. And then, that's it! In that case, why don't we just eat, drink,and be merry for tomorrow will die. At least, we tried to live life to the full.
Christian hope goes beyond. It goes beyond earthly life. The object of Christian hope is life eternal with God (there is also a life eternal with the devil!). Life for a Christian extends to eternal life. Death is seen as part of life. It is the door and passage from earthly life to eternal life. While we are limited as human beings, God, who is unlimited, gifted us with hope that saves. It means that He had made us share His glory and eternity.
This is the reason why have hope. Life on earth can be very challenging to the point of frustration and desperation. The absence of a certain and worthy destiny after death, may lead us to confusion and emptiness. The effect it will have in our lives may lead us to life's extremes; either we live life for the sake of living it (hopelessness) or live life as if it is the only thing (idolatry). St. Paul referred to them as people who have a god but without God. They have hope, but end up frustrated.
The Christian hope is the only true hope because he possesses the true God. The God who created is the same God who sustained and is the same God who will welcome them in the next life. This God is trustworthy. He knows each one of us. He loves us so much that He gave His only son to die for us. He gifted us with forgiveness and salvation. With all of these, no other hope matters. No other God compares. Aware of the presence of this God, the Christian is full of hope. While he is certain about the future of which he does not know, his hope assures him of a meaningful and fruitful anticipation. All the challenges of life are now seen in this context. Yes, even death becomes a part of life. In fact, it is the cause for eternal life.
All activities that a Christian does hinge on the reality of this true and only hope. The realization and acceptance of this will help transform his attitude toward life and God. Let us just hope that all of us will realize this in time. Yes, when there is life there is hope. But it is better to realize that when there is Hope, there is Life!
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