Episode Transcript  

One

What is Hope?

Hope is the virtue whereby the individual strives for Heaven as something which is possible, but not guaranteed. So hope involves three things: firstly, an active pursuit of God and Heaven. Secondly, a realization that the attainment of Heaven is possible (after all, if it wasn’t possible to get to Heaven, why would anyone even try to get there?). Thirdly, a realization that failing to attain Heaven is also possible (after all, if getting to Heaven was guaranteed, why would you have to try to get there?).  

The question is, why is hope a theological virtue? In fact, why is it a virtue at all?

Two

Is Hope Escapism?

Tragically, it’s common to hear this striving for Heaven as something which is merely a distraction from the important business of life on earth. Marx once famously said that “religion is the opium of the masses,” and ever since, many people have felt or argued that thinking about eternity is a waste of time. After all, they say, we can worry about the afterlife when we get there; till then, we certainly have enough to keep us busy down here. But how can you know what you should be doing in this life if you don’t even know the goal of this life? 

Everybody knows that to be successful in life, you have to keep your goals constantly in mind, but what’s the goal of life itself? If the goal is heaven, then to be successful is going to mean keeping that goal in mind constantly, so you can always work towards it. And that’s what we mean by hope.

Three

The Transforming Power of Hope

History actually proves that the people with their eyes fixed on Heaven are the ones who do the most good for earthly society. 

C.S. Lewis articulates this very clearly, "If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven.”  

Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize. John Paul II had the most attended funeral in human history. The whole world was astonished at how much good they did for earthly society. But their motives weren’t earthly. They were heavenly.

Four

Hope and the diminishing relevance of our own difficulties

The perspective of eternity shows us that, in the grand scheme of things, our frustrations and sufferings are infinitesimally unimportant. This is because of the rule that, as time passes, frustrations/aggravations/disappointments become increasingly unimportant. That’s why even though eating a food you hated as a kid, or getting a zit in the middle of your forehead right before prom, seemed like a big deal at the time, it doesn’t seem like a big deal now. The passage of time has enabled us to see those minor trials from within a bigger context.

So what gets on your nerves now? Well, do you think that in a billion, trillion, gazillion years, you’re still going to say, “You know, I’m still mad about that. And I’m glad I was constantly irritable back then, I’m glad I went around complaining all the time.”

Definitely not. As St. Teresa of Avila puts it, in heaven, the worst night on earth will be comparable to a night spent in a mediocre hotel. That’s very important, because people who make a difference on earth are people who can deal with frustrations, disappointments, or obstacles. If you want to live a full life, you can’t sweat the small stuff. And from the perspective of eternity, everything is the small stuff. 

Five

Hope and the eternal relevance of our decisions

The perspective of Eternity also shows us that our decisions become infinitely important because eternal destinies are at stake. As C.S. Lewis says in “The Weight of Glory,” with every decision we are nudging ourselves and those around us closer to a final destiny of astounding glory or everlasting horror.

This is why Hope is a virtue, because like all the virtues, it helps us live well. And if you want to live the fullest, most dedicated and effective life possible, you do it by thinking about Heaven. You do it by not worrying about the passing sufferings down here, and you do it by remembering that your choices have eternal ramifications for yourself and others.

A life lived with hope is a life that doesn’t waste any time, and it doesn’t miss any opportunities. It makes the most of this life, and it makes the most of the next.

If you enjoyed this meditation, subscribe below.