Let’s beam with hope

Let’s try our best to be men and women of real, great and abiding hope, which means we have a clear vision of our ultimate goal in life and confidence that with God’s grace and our effort we can reach it. Let’s beam with hope and not just keep it inside.

We should try to avoid being tied down by the here and now, though what we have here and now is important and crucial in our journey of life. We have to be immersed in the things of this world, but clearly knowing that these things are only means, materials, occasions, and instruments to reach our goal. We should not allow ourselves to be swallowed up by them.

To be hopeful and mindful of our ultimate end should not diminish the seriousness we have to put into our daily duties and responsibilities. We should not say that just because we are meant for heaven we can take it easy in our temporal affairs.

Remember what Christ wanted us to learn from his parable of talents. (cfr. Mt 25,14-30) We are meant to be fruitful and productive out of the many blessings and endowments God has given us. How we fare in our earthly life determines whether we are truly progressing or not in our journey towards heaven.

It’s wrong to say that just because we are meant for heaven, we should not be serious in our field of human endeavor. If our temporal duty is about making money, for example, for the glory of God, then we should not shy away from making as much money as possible.

Let us strengthen this hope every day, trusting in the assured promises of Christ especially when we are tested. We cannot deny the drama in our life can undermine our faith and hope. How many people have been confused and lost in that way?

That is why we need to spend time meditating on the word of God and on the life of Christ so we don’t get distracted from what is truly our path. When there is true hope, we can manage to be at peace and in joy no matter what situation we may find ourselves in. We would be game with everything.

Meditating on God’s word and on Christ’s life will surely teach us how to equip ourselves properly for our real pursuit in life. We have to develop the virtues, learn to have recourse to spiritual and supernatural means, like praying, making sacrifices, learning how to do ascetical struggle, availing of the sacraments, etc.

We have to learn how to be both serious and not too serious, knowing that in this life, no matter how much we try, there will always be surprises, disappointments, setbacks, failures, etc. There are things that are simply beyond our control, so we have to learn how to accept them with a good sense of humor.

God is always in full control of things, no matter how we and the devil mess up things. Even in our worst predicament, he can always derive something good. As long as we are open to his will, even if we don’t fully get it or understand it, there is always hope, because he is a father who will always take care of us, especially in our weak moments.

Let’s just try our best that with all the benefits of hope, we do God’s will as fully, faithfully, and lovingly as possible.