The Resurrection is more than a wish – it’s a reality, Pope Francis says

Last updated on: February 1, 2017 at 1:47 pm by CNA Daily News

The Resurrection is more than a wish – it’s a reality, Pope Francis says 2017-02-01T13:47:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Feb 1, 2017 / 06:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday Pope Francis said the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Christ and in our own resurrection at the end of time is more than just wishful thinking, but rather implies confidence in something certain.

“This is the Christian hope. Christian hope is the expectation of something that has already been accomplished and that certainly will be realized for each of us,” the Pope said Feb. 1.

Speaking to pilgrims in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall, he said that we need “to return to the root and foundation of our faith, so as to become aware of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus and what our death means.”

Continuing his catechesis on the theme of hope, Francis’ lesson for the audience centered on the Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians. The community of Thessalonica had only been around for a few years when Paul wrote, which was shortly after Christ’s Resurrection, he said.

At this time, the community did not have difficulty believing in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, but rather, the difficulty they faced was believing that on the last day, all of the dead would be raised.

“We all have a little fear of the uncertainty of death,” the Pope said. “Each time we face our death, or that of a loved one, we feel that our faith is tested. All our doubts emerge, all our weaknesses and we ask ourselves: ‘But really there is life after death …? I can still see and embrace the people I loved…?’”

However, despite the fears and concerns of the community, St. Paul invites the people to hold firm to “the hope of salvation,” especially “in trials and in the most difficult moments of our lives.”

Christian hope is not like the everyday hopes we have, like when we hope or wish for good weather, even though we know that the weather may actually be bad, he said.

Rather, Christian hope means “to be sure that I’m on the way to something that is, not that I want to be.” We should strive to live in this kind of hopeful expectation, he said, using the image of a pregnant woman who waits in expectation to see her child.

Although this isn’t always easy, we are able to learn to live with this kind of expectation, he said, but added that to do this requires a “humble heart, a poor heart.” Someone who is full of himself and of his possessions, on the other hand, cannot place his trust in anyone but himself.

Pope Francis said that something that touches his heart and fills him with hope, is the line from St. Paul that says: “And we shall always be with the Lord.”

“One nice thing: everything passes but, after death, we shall be forever with the Lord. It is the total certainty of hope,” he said.

“Do you believe this?” he asked, inviting those present to repeat with him: “And we shall always be with the Lord.”

He noted how St. Paul writes that Jesus “died for us ‘so that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.’” These words, he said, “are always a source of great consolation and peace.”

Vatican

Previous Post

February 1, 2017

Iraqis' experiences recall 'what it means to live as a Christian'

Next Post

February 1, 2017 Supreme Court pick wins applause from religious freedom advocates

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into what farming tool?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Sickles Hoes Scythes Pruning hooks