What is Hope?

Hope is directly related to faith, as the Apostle reminds us: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1). What is it we hope for?

Jesus is approached by the rich young man: “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). 

St. John Paul II, in his encyclical Veritatis Splendor, notes that this is the question of every human person with an open and honest religious mind. 

It at once acknowledges the bond of our moral actions and eternal reward. 

What the man is asking for is not some pleasurable material life, free from torment — the question is actually reflective of the deepest desire of every human heart: How can I find and sustain true, lasting, eternal joy?

The heart of Christ’s ministry on earth is the communication of the Kingdom of God, or, as in this story, eternal life. 

Both are meant to convey the same promise: “a participation in the very life of God” (VS, 12) —  a God who is the perfection of the transcendental meaning, quality, and value sought by every human heart. 

This is our joy finally fulfilled, to experience complete union with God in His full glory.

When I was learning to fly helicopters with the United States Army, my instructor pilots could tell by the altitude of the aircraft that my eyes were drifting downward, usually into the cockpit, where I was constantly fascinated with the digital displays and steam gauges. 

The “nose-down attitude” meant I had to play constant catch-up to maintain altitude and airspeed. 

It wasn’t until an instructor once told me to keep my “eyes just above the horizon” that I was able to sustain flight without such a heavy mental and physical workload.

This provides a great analogy for hope — we keep our eyes fixed just above the horizon. 

We give to the world what is needed for our survival, but the most critical motivation deep in our hearts must be eternal happiness in Heaven. 

When we “seek first the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33), our moral actions align with the design of our Creator, and our lives reflect the deep love of God and the consequent love for neighbor. 

What we do, therefore, reflects what we believe; our hope is secured by our faith in Christ and the promise of resurrection.

The essential things

It may seem expedient in this life to make moral concessions to earn others’ admiration and gain social currency. But those ends will not lead to our lasting joy. 

Rather, Christ tells the rich man three essential things:

1. Obey the Commandments (all 10 of them). 

These are given to us by our designer as a basic operator’s manual. If you want to be happy, seek a just life in friendship with God and your neighbor, giving each their proper due. 

There is no shortcut here — and Christ reaffirms the universality of these basic precepts of the law.

2. “If you wish to be perfect,” Jesus challenges the man, “go, sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” 

Do not place your trust, and, therefore, your hope in the material things of this world — they will not satisfy the longing of your heart. 

Give it away. Break the attachments. Seek the grace of Christ, the divine economy, heavenly treasures. 

3. The last invitation is the most important: “Come and follow me” (Matthew 19:21). 

The sequela Christi, the following of Jesus, will lead to a life of real, lasting joy. 

His school of discipleship masterfully defies all human logic, commands like “take up your cross” (Matthew 16:24). 

He calls us to do the very things that would seem to destroy our happiness. 

Rather, when done for love of Him, they are the very means by which we receive deeper union.

Christ’s vocation to the rich young man ends in sadness. 

The man walks away crestfallen. “It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 19:23). 

When we fixate on the things of this life, our hope follows our gaze, our life trajectory aims at the mud, a rat race trying to appease a world disinterested in our eternal joy. 

Heads up, faithful Christian: Keep your eyes fixed above the horizon. 

Do what you know is right. Be radically generous for the sake of Heaven. 

Follow closely the Master’s footsteps. 

His way may seem strange to our human minds, but He is leading us to the very fulfillment of our restless hearts.