Pope Francis: It's one thing to live out hope and another to live as good Christians

October 29, 2013 (Romereports.com) During his homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said that the true meaning of hope is more than just a state of mind, or optimism. He described it as an “ardent expectation.”    

POPE FRANCIS
“It's one thing to live out hope, because through hope we are all saved, and another thing to live as good Christians, nothing more. When a woman becomes pregnant, she is still a woman. But she is much more than that: she's a mother. And hope is like that too. It changes our attitudes: we are ourselves, but more than ourselves. It's us, searching beyond.”

Pope Francis also said that hope produces life, and so Christians must go beyond what's comfortable for them and give hope to others.

EXCERPT FROM POPE'S HOMILY
Source: Vatican Radio

“Hope is not just optimism. It's not the capacity to look at things with good spirits and carry on. No, that is optimism, not hope. Hope is not having a positive attitude before things. These people who are luminous, positive... that is good. But it's not hope. It's not easy to understand what hope is. It's said that hope is the most humble of virtues because it is hidden in life. You can see faith, you can feel it, you know what it is. And charity too we know what that is. But what is hope? What is this attitude of hope? First of all, we can say it is a risk, a risky virtue. As Saint Paul says: 'it is a virtue of ardent expectation for the Revelation.' It is not an illusion.”

“But one question comes to mind. Where are we anchored, each one of us? Are we anchored there, on the banks of this ocean so far away, or are we anchored at an artificial lake that we created ourselves? With our own rules, our behaviors, our schedules, our clericalism, our ecclesiastical behaviors? Not ecclesiastic. Are we anchored there? All safe and sound. That is not hope. Where is my heart anchored, in the artificial lake, with a truly impeccable behavior...?”

“It's one thing is to live out hope, because through we are all saved, and another thing to live as good Christians, nothing more. Live in expectation of the Revelation, or live out the Commandments? Stay anchored at the banks over there, or parked in the artificial lake? I think of Mary, a young woman, who, after she realized she was a mother, she changed her behavior, and she goes, helps and sings of praise. When a woman becomes pregnant, she is still a woman. But she is much more than that: she's a mother. And hope is like that too. It changes our attitudes: we are ourselves, but more than ourselves. It's us, searching beyond.”