HOPE - Part Two of The Three Theological Virtues

 

This is Part Two of our posts on the Three Theological Virtues - Faith, Hope, & Love. You can read part one HERE.

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The word "hope" has numerous meanings. It is a noun, a verb, a feeling, a name. We throw the word around many times in everyday conversations.

Brides hope their wedding day will be perfect. 

Sports enthusiasts hope their team makes the playoffs.

Patients hope the tests are negative for that fatal disease.

Children hope for just the right present under the Christmas tree.

None of these uses of the word "hope" are wrong, per se, but they're more wishes than hope. There is an even deeper meaning according to The Catechism of the Catholic Church. In the glossary, we find hope defined as "the theological virtue by which we desire and expect from God both eternal life and the grace we need to attain it."

Our true hope in this sense is our desire for Heaven. Created by God, in His image, we are deeply drawn to the hope of eternal life with Him. So, the theological virtue of hope is confidence in the promises of Christ, not a confidence in ourselves & our wishes.

Through prayer, we can strengthen our hope for eternal life. 

"The Holy Spirit, who instructs us to celebrate the liturgy in expectation of Christ's return, teaches us to pray in hope. Conversely, the prayer of the Church and personal prayer nourish hope in us. The Psalms especially, with their concrete and varied language, teach us to fix our hope in God." (CCC #2657)

Jesus taught us The Our Father, a model prayer for our lives. We can confidently lift our voices to God in praise of His Holy Name & in petition for our needs. The priest, at each Mass celebration, follows our recitation of The Our Father with the embolism (an insertion to remind us to avoid evil & sin). This prayer extension includes the words, "...as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ." 

Not any old hope, but The Blessed Hope - Our anticipation & hope of that glorious day when Jesus will return & usher us to our eternal home.

Even though Jesus promised the victory of the coming Kingdom though, we cannot sit idly by, presuming we only need that promise. Yes, His Kingdom will come, but we must work to prepare our hearts & minds. How? Through prayer, by learning more of Christ & His promises, making frequent use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation to purify our hearts & repent of our sins, by living out that hope in our daily lives, & sharing it with others. 

Let us end with an Act of Hope prayer...

O my God, relying on Your infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.


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