JESUS’ WORDS WON’T PASS AWAY
The signs of hopelessness aren’t always very visible, since lack of hope can be disguised as superficial optimism, blind activism or secret couldn’t-care-less attitude.
On the other hand, there are all too many who don’t recognize feeling fear, boredom, loneliness or hopelessness because according to the current social model, you suppose that a person who triumphs in life can’t feel themselves alone, bored or fearful. Erich Fromm, with his usual sharpness, has pointed out that modern man is trying to free self from some repressions like sexual repression, but he sees himself obliged to «repress fear and doubt as much as depression, boredom and lack of hope».
Other times we defend ourselves of our «emptiness of hope» by submerging ourselves in activity. We can’t stand being without something to do. We need to be busy about something in order to not face our future.
But the inevitable question is: what awaits us after so many efforts, struggles, dreams and troubles? Don’t we have another objective other than producing more and more, enjoying better each day what we produce, and consuming more and more until we are consumed by our own expiration?
The human being needs hope in order to live. A hope that isn’t «an outer wrapping for resignation», as the hope of those who set up things to organize life just tolerably to put up with each day’s adventure. A hope that oughtn’t be ever confused with a passive waiting that frequently is only «a disguised form of hopelessness and powerlessness» (Erich Fromm).
Human beings need a hope in their heart that keeps them alive, though other small hopes are seen as wasted or even completely destroyed.
We Christians find hope in Jesus Christ and his words, which «won’t pass away». We aren’t waiting for something illusory. Our hope is helped by the unshakeable fact of Jesus’ resurrection. From the Risen Christ we dare to see our present life in “a state of being born”, as a seed of a life that will reach its final fulness in God.
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
