This other article on hope explores the deep nature of Christian hope based on St. Paul and the call to live the Jubilee as pilgrims in hope, sustaining one another.
Summary:
This article, titled “Living the Jubilee of Hope” by Delio Ruiz, SCJ, explores the deep nature of Christian hope and the call to live the Jubilee as “pilgrims in hope, sustained by one another.” The reflection is structured around the teachings of the apostle Paul, for whom hope transcends a mere vital attitude or cheerfulness in the face of tribulations; it is fundamentally a **Person, Jesus Christ** (1 Tim 1:1). Hope constitutes one of the theological virtues, along with faith and charity (1 Thess 1:3), with the latter being the greatest, as one who loves “hopes all things” (1 Cor 13:13, 7). Paul teaches that hope is not only directed toward God but also finds reason in brothers and sisters in faith (1 Thess 2:19-20), serving as a spiritual breastplate for facing persecutions. Far from being simplistic optimism, this hope is based on the inner experience of God’s love poured out by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5), strengthening precisely in suffering, which begets patience, fidelity, and, ultimately, the hope that does not disappoint. In addition to illuminating the daily journey and the final destiny of the believer, Christian hope encompasses all of creation awaiting to be liberated. The second focus of the article places the Jubilee as an invitation to synodality and the refounding of consecrated life, seen as a pilgrimage in community where each member and the mission itself act as mutual “points of support.” This commitment to walk together in hope, despite fragility and weariness, aligns with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, particularly Gaudium et spes (GS 1), which urges the Church to be in solidarity with the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of humanity, especially the poor. Ultimately, it is concluded that living the Jubilee demands a “shepherd’s hope” that trusts in God’s healing power and recognizes prayer as the true engine of the mission.
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