Hope in the homily "Hope of the Christian" from "Friends of God".

Carlos J. MoralesI have discovered traits of St. Josemaría that continue to surprise me".

This year we embark on an exciting journey of exploration through the Scriptures, focusing on biblical quotations that inspire us and speak to us of the Esperanza. On this occasion, we will analyze the homily "Esperanza del Cristiano" by St. Josemaría Escrivá, from "Amigos de Dios". This text reveals a structure deeply anchored in the Word of God, where each central idea is supported by carefully selected biblical passages: justification by faith (Rom 5:1-5), perseverance in the midst of tribulation (Rom 12:12), the call to sacrifice as the way of Christian life (Mt 16:24) and the ultimate goal of eternal life (Jn 14:2-3; 1 Cor 15:12-14) constitute the fundamental pillars of its message.

Our analysis will highlight the close relationship between the content of the homily and the biblical citations that support it, evidencing that approximately 80 % of the message is based on these sacred references. This solid doctrinal foundation not only gives firmness to the text, but also imparts a pastoral tone that invites deep reflection and renewal of faith. Join us in this fascinating journey through the Hope that the Gospel enlightens us!

Outline of the homily "The Christian's Hope".

The following is a possible outline of the most relevant ideas of the homily oriented to the central theme: hope.

1. Introduction: Foundation of Christian Hope

Personal conviction: Everything depends on Jesus; the Christian has nothing of his own.
Effects of hope in God: It kindles love. Gives strength in the face of suffering. It keeps the heart beating without discouragement.
The theological virtues: Union between faith, charity and hope.

2. Theological hope

According to the words of St. Paul (Rom 5:1-5), hope arises through faith, patience and tribulation. It is a virtue that does not disappoint, for it derives from the love of God in our hearts.
There are two ways of living: divine life, which strives to please God; or animal life, without God, which leads to a mediocre existence without true hope.
Role of the authentic Christian: To act with supernatural vision. And to love the world with our eyes fixed on Heaven.

3. False hope and genuine hope

Common mistakes about hope: 1) Reducing it to a passive attitude ("the last thing to be lost"). 2) Interpreting it as comfort or avoidance of challenges. 3) Confusing it with illusion or superficial reverie.
True hope: It is a deep desire to unite us with God. It does not separate us from earthly realities, but elevates them to an eternal dimension.
Warning: Merely human projects, without God, lead to expiration and emptiness.

4. Hope in the daily life of the Christian

Supernatural basis: Christians hope in the realization of God's Love. Let us not forget, the world offers temporal goods, but the Christian seeks eternal joy.
Impact on daily reality: 1) Sanctify daily activities. 2) To elevate all human occupations to the order of grace. 3) To Christianize society in order to transmit authentic peace and joy.

5. Spiritual struggle and the challenges of hope

Need for inner struggle: to reject pride, envy and lack of effort.
Hope involves concrete and determined steps.
Example of St. Paul: Despite sufferings and persecutions, their faith and hope remain firm.
Cross as the center of hope: The Christian life requires effort and sacrifice. Therefore, every defeat should be a reason to start again.
Sacrament of Penance: It allows for renewed trust in God and his mercy: "God does not lose battles," and humility in forgiveness strengthens the Christian.

6. The Role of Grace and Hope in God

La Esperanza, as supernatural virtue, it urges us to trust in God's plans.
The certainty of human nullity finds consolation in the strength of God.
Jesus Christ as a model and support. In the midst of adversities, the Lord gives us his strength: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13).

7. Toward the Goal: The Hope of Eternal Life

Heaven as the ultimate goal: Promise of eternal happiness with Christ.
Hope moves us to faithfully fulfill our earthly mission: Transforming the human into the divine.
Warning against the emptiness of lack of faith; indeed, the denial of Christ's Resurrection renders life meaningless.
The fruit of hope: confidence in God's reward: "Good and faithful servant" (Mt 25:21).

8. Conclusion: Hope makes us strong

For the promise of God's love: After death, the Christian will find fulfillment in God and in clean loves.
Calling us to action. To struggle with perseverance and joy, guided by divine grace.
Ask Mary, "Spes nostra" (our hope), to lead us to the Father's house.

Biblical quotations from the text "The Christian's hope".

Now included in this list are all the biblical quotes from the homily related to hope:

Romans 5:1-5: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces patience; and patience, proven character; and proven character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us."
Romans 12:12: "Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, constant in prayer".
Colossians 3:1-3: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on things on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Ecclesiastes 2:11: "But when I considered all the works that my hands had done and the labor that it had cost me to do them, I saw that it was all vanity and running after the wind, and that there is no profit under the sun."
Psalms 105:1 (104:1 in some versions): "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever".
Psalms 30:2 (31:2 in some versions): "In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness".
Hebrews 13, 14: "Because we don't have a permanent city here, but we are looking for the one to come."
Romans 4:18: "He believed in hope against hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to what had been spoken to him, 'So shall your seed be.'"
Proverbs 23:26: "Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways."
James 1:10-11: "But the rich man in his humiliation; for he shall pass away as the flower of the grass. For when the sun rises with scorching heat, the grass withers and its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So shall the rich man also wither in all his undertakings."
2 Corinthians 11:24-28: "From the Jews, five times I have received forty lashes except one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I spent on the high seas. In many journeys, dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own nation, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers in the sea, dangers among false brethren; in toil and labor, in many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, in many fasts, in cold and nakedness. And besides other things, what weighs on me every day: the concern for all the churches".
2 Corinthians 12:10: "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
Psalms 42:2 (41:2 in some versions), "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and stand before God?"
Philippians 4:12-13: "I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound; in everything and in all things I have been taught, both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".
1 John 2:1-2: "My little children, these things I write to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Proverbs 24:16: "For the righteous fall seven times and rise again; but the wicked sink into misfortune."
Isaiah 43:1: "But now, thus says the Lord, he who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.'"
Matthew 16:24: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"
Mark 10:39: "They said to him, 'We are able.' Jesus answered them, 'Truly, of the cup that I drink, you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you shall be baptized.'"
Job 7:1: "Is not the life of man upon earth a militia? Are not his days like those of a hired servant?"
Romans 8:31: "What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us?"
Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the certainty of things not seen."
John 14:2-3: "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go therefore to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also".
1 Corinthians 15:12-14: "If it is preached that Christ was raised from the dead, how can some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither was Christ raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain."
Matthew 25:21: "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter into the joy of your lord.'"
Acts 10:38: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."

Outline of ideas based on the biblical quotations

The following outline is based exclusively on the biblical quotations mentioned in the homily: "The Christian's Hope". Each main idea is supported by relevant quotations:

Justification by faith and hope in God

Romans 5:1-5: Faith justifies and makes peace with God through Jesus Christ. Tribulation produces patience; patience, tested character; tested character, hope. Hope does not disappoint because God's love has been poured into hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Joy in hope and focus on celestial realities

Romans 12, 12: Rejoice in hope, be constant in prayer and patient in tribulation.
Colossians 3:1-3: The Christian life should look to things above, where Christ is, not to things on earth. Our life is hidden with Christ in God, because we have died to the world.

Vanity of earthly goods vs. the eternal

Ecclesiastes 2:11: Human effort without God is "vanity and running after the wind."
Psalms 105, 1: Give thanks to the Lord because his mercy is everlasting and directs us to the divine.

Eternal city and hope against all hope

Psalms 30:2: In God we shall never be ashamed; he delivers us in his righteousness.
Hebrews 13, 14: We do not have a permanent city here; our eyes are fixed on the city to come.
Romans 4, 18: Example of Abraham: hope against hope, trusting in the promises of God.

Total surrender to God

Proverbs 23:26: "Give me your heart, my son": genuine hope is born of a sincere surrender to the Lord.
James 1:10-11: Worldly riches fade away like the flower of grass in the sun.

Struggle and sacrifice in the Christian life

2 Corinthians 11:24-28: St. Paul as an example of perseverance in suffering and danger.
2 Corinthians 12:10: "When I am weak, then I am strong": suffering strengthens the Christian as he depends on God.
Matthew 16, 24: Jesus calls his followers to take up their cross and renounce themselves.
Mark 10:39: Like the apostles, the Christian must be prepared to share in Christ's suffering.

Strength and consolation in divine grace

Psalm 42, 2: "My soul thirsts for God": the Christian longs to be close to the Lord.
Philippians 4:12-13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me": hope in the omnipotence of God.
Romans 8:31: If God is with us, who can be against us? Full confidence in his protection.

Human misery and divine forgiveness

1 John 2:1-2: Jesus Christ is an advocate and propitiation for our sins: there is always hope of forgiveness.
Proverbs 24, 16: "Seven times the righteous falls and rises again": God's forgiveness allows us to start again and again.
Isaiah 43:1: God calls us by name and says, "You are mine." Hope is in his personal love.

The ultimate goal: eternal life

Hebrews 11:1: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the certainty of things not seen.
John 14:2-3: Jesus prepares a place in the Father's house for his disciples, assuring them eternal life.
1 Corinthians 15:12-14: The Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith and hope in eternal life.

Rewarding loyalty

Matthew 25, 21: The faithful servant is invited to enter into the joy of the Lord as a reward for his perseverance.
Acts 10:38: Like Jesus "doing good," Christians are called to work for the Kingdom during their earthly life.

Conclusion: Victory in God

Romans 8:31: God omnipotent is our strength. If he is with us, no one can defeat us.
Psalms 22:2-4: "Though I walk through a dark valley, I fear no evil, for You are with me."
Hebrews 13, 14 (Repetition): Our true homeland is in Heaven.

We can see that the outline of the quotations connects with the key ideas of the homily, showing how they underlie the teaching.

Spiritual and theological conclusions

From the exegetical analysis of the outline based solely on the biblical quotations of the document "The Christian's Hope", conclusions are drawn that illuminate its central message. These conclusions address two dimensions: the theologicalwhich reveals who God is and how he acts in the life of the believer, and the spiritualThe Christian's practical response to these truths.

1. Hope as a divine gift grounded in faith
Theologically, Christian hope is not simply a human aspiration, but a supernatural virtue that God instills in the heart of the believer (cf. Romans 5:1-5). This hope arises from justification by faith and is nourished by the love that the Holy Spirit pours into our souls, projecting itself beyond earthly goods toward redemption and eternal life (cf. Hebrews 13:14; John 14:2-3).

Spiritually, the Christian is called to keep his eyes on the "things that are above" (cf. Colossians 3:1-3), trusting in God's promises, which translates into joy, strength in adversity and constancy in prayer (cf. Romans 12:12).

2. Tribulation as a path to an authentic hope.
From a theological point of view, difficulties and suffering do not weaken hope, but rather purify and strengthen it (cf. Romans 5:3-5). Tribulation, far from being an obstacle, acts as a sanctifying element that produces patience and character, evidencing divine strength in the midst of our weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:10). Spiritually, the Christian should see in every trial an opportunity to deepen his dependence on God and reaffirm his commitment to follow Christ (cf. Matthew 16:24), remembering that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (cf. Philippians 4:13).

3. Spiritual struggle: active response to divine grace.
Theologically, the Christian life is lived as a constant struggle against the passions and evil (cf. Job 7:1), but this struggle is fought with the support of God's grace and providence (cf. Romans 8:31). Continuous forgiveness, mediated by Jesus Christ (cf. 1 John 2:1-2), assures us the possibility of rising up after every fall (cf. Proverbs 24:16).

In the spiritual realm, the believer must renew every day his decision to fight with hope, relying on the sacraments-especially the sacrament of Penance-and on constant prayer, always remembering that, with God on our side, no adversary can prevail.

4. The vanity of earthly goods compared to the transcendence of God's love.
The Scriptures teach that the achievements and possessions of the world are ephemeral and, without God's guidance, result in "vanity and running after the wind" (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:11). Only that which is touched by the divine has eternal value and becomes a source of hope (cf. Psalm 105:1). Spiritually, the Christian must direct his efforts towards goals that transcend the temporal, recognizing that his true homeland is Heaven (cf. Hebrews 13:14) and finding in communion with Christ the eternal meaning of his existence.

5. Eternal life as the ultimate goal
Theologically, Christian hope is directed toward full communion with God in eternal life, founded and guaranteed by the resurrection of Christ (cf. John 14:2-3; 1 Corinthians 15:12-14). This vision transforms human longings into a sure expectation of eternal love, as promised in Matthew 25:21. Spiritually, the certainty of Heaven motivates the believer to persevere in doing good, knowing that every act of faithfulness counts, and being filled with enthusiasm and optimism as we remember that, in the end, we will receive the Lord's praise.

6. Hope in God's steadfast mercy.
Theologically, God shows himself inexhaustible in his mercy, always ready to forgive and sustain those who stumble, confirming his faithfulness by calling us by name and assuring us "You are mine" (cf. Isaiah 43:1; Proverbs 24:16). Spiritually, this mercy invites us to recognize our own weakness and to trust that every fall is an opportunity to begin again under the protection of Christ, our defender (cf. 1 John 2:1-2).

Final Conclusion

Christian hope, far from being a mere emotion, is a vital energy that springs from faith and is strengthened in adversity. It is a divine gift that transforms the life of the believer, impelling him to live with joy, trust and perseverance, and guiding him towards eternal communion with a God who is close, merciful and always faithful to his promises.

The authorRafael Sanz Carrera

Doctor of Canon Law