The Virtue Series: Hope Part 1

THE VIRTUE SERIES

HOPE PART 1

The theological virtue of hope is the virtue that provides us with confidence that God will do as He has promised.  God's most important promise to us is our salvation-life in Heaven, enjoying His presence in eternal happiness.  He has promised us eternal life if we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, and persevere in our commitment to Him.  We are the pilgrim Church on the journey.  When we hope, our pilgrim journey of life is given meaning and death becomes the doorway to eternal life.

The virtue of Hope  bridges the gap between the other theological virtues of faith and love.  Hope is delicately tied to faith as its source, because we hope in what we believe.  Hope looks forward to its goal- perfect love in union with God. The following scripture passages gives us some further insight into what hope is, describe this virtue and its connection with the other theological virtues.

• Romans 5:1-5:Hope is the virtue given us by God's love.  It is a gift of God to believe in Him and be at peace with Him.  Because of the gifts of faith, hope and love, we hope to share in the glory of God in eternal life.
• Romans 8:23-25: Hope is looking forward that which is unseen and believing that what is unseen will be accomplished.  Again, we hope because we believe God and know that He loves us.
• Hebrews 10:19-24:It is the firm assurance that what God has promised will be done.  We Hope becuase we believe and abide in God's love.

The virtue of Hope differs from mere 'wishful thinking'. Hope is the confident assurance of what will come to pass because is based in faith and looks toward love as its goal.  Wishful thinking is fundamentally different as its basis is our thoughts only, and its goal is not union with God.

Hope therefore by definition looks forward to something. The object of our hope is highlighted in these following scripture passages:

• Romans 8:18-25: The object of our hope is our salvation and the redemption of all creation.
• John 14:1-6: Jesus explains to his disciples about Heaven and desires that they believe in His words and place their hope in the home He is preparing for them. The object of our hope is living in our home in heaven with God forever.
• Titus 3:3-7: the object of our hope highlighted in this passage is eternal life.
• Revelation 21:1-4: the object of hope in this passage is life with God in Heaven and having eternal rest.

It is clear then from the scripture passages highlighted above that the object of hope is clear- salvation and living with God for ever in Heaven.

How do we possess and nurture the virtue of hope?  A deeper prayer life is the fruit of hope, and prayer nourishes the virtues of hope. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

". When Jesus prays, he is already teaching us how to pray. His prayer to his Father is the theological path (the path of faith, hope, and charity) of our prayer to God. But the Gospel also gives us Jesus' explicit teaching on prayer. Like a wise teacher he takes hold of us where we are and leads us progressively toward the Father. Addressing the crowds following him, Jesus builds on what they already know of prayer from the Old Covenant and opens to them the newness of the coming Kingdom. Then he reveals this newness to them in parables. Finally, he will speak openly of the Father and the Holy Spirit to his disciples who will be the teachers of prayer in his Church".(para 2607) 

In prayer we acknowledge God and our dependence upon Him, and look forward to eternal life. It is also true that only way to grow in the theological virtues is by the grace of God, which we can ask for in prayer.

The following passages from scriptures encourages us to prayer more in the following ways:

• Jeremiah 26:12-14: God hears our prayers and desires to reveal Himself to us.
• Matthew 7:7-11: God answers our prayers. He is a loving father who gives us good gifts.
• John 1:5-7:We desires for us to hope in Him. If we ask ask to grow in this virtue, God will give us the desire of our heart.

On a personal note:

I have been writing this series early in the week- life became more complicated this week.  I will endeavour to write Hope Part 2 early next week. Please accept my apologies if you are following the series and were disappointed that there was no post early in the week.

Next week Hope Part 2.