Pope: Christian hope "is not optimism," but "fervent expectation" of Christ’s return
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Christian hope "is not optimism," but "fervent expectation" of Jesus' return, when all nations will be together" in the heavenly Jerusalem, and "there will be no more isolation, bullying or discrimination of any kind - social, ethnic or religious - we will all be one in Christ."
"In the end, what will become of the people of God".
This was the question that Pope Francis put to the 50 thousand people in St
Peter's Square for the general audience, among whom he toured at length in his white
jeep.
"Over the past period - the Pope said - we have spoken about the Church, our
Holy Mother the hierarchical Church, the journeying People of God. Today we
want to ask: in the end, what will become of the people of God? What will become
of each of one us? What should we expect? The Apostle Paul gave heart to the Christian
community in Thessalonica, who were asking these same questions, and after his
argument, they would say these words, which are among the finest in the New
Testament: "and so we will be with the Lord forever". These words are so simple, but so dense with
a great hope! And so we will be with the Lord forever!. Do you believe this? I do
not think so, eh! Do you believe? Let us repeat them together, three times? And
so we will be with the Lord forever! And so we will be with the Lord forever! And so we will be with the Lord forever!".
"It is emblematic - said Francis - how in the Revelations of St. John, taking up the intuition of the Prophets, he described the ultimate, definitive dimension in terms of the "new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband". This is what awaits us! This, then, is who the Church is: the people of God who follow the Lord Jesus and prepare every day for the encounter with Him, like a bride prepares for her husband. It is not just a saying: it will be a real wedding celebration! Yes, because Christ, becoming a man like us and making us all one with Him, with His death and resurrection, He really married us and made us as a people His bride. and this is nothing more than the fulfillment of the plan of communion and love woven by God throughout history, the history of God's people and of each individual. It is the Lord who brings this forward".
"There is another element, though, which gives us further comfort and that opens our heart: John tells us that in the Church, the Bride of Christ, makes the "new Jerusalem" visible. This means that the Church, as well as being a Bride , is called to become a city, a symbol par excellence of human coexistence and relationality. How beautiful it is to be able to contemplate another suggestive image from Revelations, all peoples and nations gathered together in this city as if under one tent, which will be "the tent of God"! And in this glorious image there will be no more isolation, bullying or discrimination of any kind - social, ethnic or religious - we will all be one in Christ".
"Before this unprecedented and wonderful scenery our hearts cannot help feeling strongly confirmed in hope. You see, Christian hope is not just a wish, or mere optimism. For a Christian, hope is expectation, fervent, passionate expectation for the ultimate and definitive fulfillment of a mystery, the mystery of God's love, in which we are born again and are already living. It is waiting for someone who is about to arrive: this someone is Christ the Lord, who is getting closer to us, day after day, and who will finally usher in the fullness of communion and peace. Then the Church has the task of keeping the lamp of hope lit and clearly visible so it may shine as a sure sign of salvation and illuminate the path that leads to the encounter with the merciful face of God for all humanity" .
"Dear brothers and sisters, here then is what we
should expect: Jesus who will return! The Church is a Bride waiting for her groom!
We must ask ourselves, however, with great sincerity, are we really bright and
credible witnesses of this expectation, this hope? Are our communities still
living in the sign of the presence of the Lord Jesus and warm expectation of
His coming, or do they appear tired, numb, crushed under the weight of fatigue
and resignation? Do we also run the risk of running out of the oil of faith, and
the oil of joy ? Let us be careful. "
"We invoke - concluded the Pope - the Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope and the
Queen of Heaven, so we may always maintain an attitude of listening and
waiting, so we can be already be imbued with the love of Christ and be able to
take part one day in the joy without end, in full communion with God and do not
forget, never forget that in this way it will be forever with the Lord. Will we
repeat this three more times? And so we will be with the Lord forever! And so we
will be with the Lord forever! And so we
will be with the Lord forever!".
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