Spe Salvi as a discernment tool, part 6

One of my mother’s comments was never prayer for patience because God has already given it to you, so you will be given circumstances to help you discover what you have. I don’t know if this is true, but it sounds good. We are finally arriving at the heart of the encyclical and learning what hope is about. If you have stuck with me so far, don’t pray for patience because I will slow down further, but pray for God to push me along.

In the section The true shape of Christian Hope, we finally arrive at what has only been hinted at so far. We are shown the difference between the material and moral realm. Pope Benedict writes that the material realm offers us continuous progress as generations continue to build upon the previous generations discoveries and knowledge, but every generation must renew itself in morality because morality does not progress. We can hand the advancements of science and technology on to students who becomes professors. Morality must be rediscovered by each generation, the knowledge of morality can be passed along, but each succeeding generation has the ability and freedom to accept or reject it. We might argue that we can hand on structures that keep morality, but putting people in a structure destroys their freedom and becomes a prison. Pope Benedict states, “this means that every generation has the task of engaging in the arduous search for the right way to order human affairs; this task is never completed (#25).”

Pope Benedict next states rather simply “man is redeemed by love (#26).” While the statement is simple the argument that explains the statement is complex. He states, “When someone has the experience of a great love in his life, this is a moment of ‘redemption’, which gives new meaning to his life (#26).” How many of us can remember a moment where we knew we were loved and knew that we were needed, and this knowledge of a need satisfied generated a renewed desire to live better? When we take these many moments we probably discover them as fleetingly happiness, but when we look at the absolute love of God, we can then begin to know how love is redemptive. This is the love that allows us to hope and desire eternal life. Yet, this is not a moment of solitude, but we will discover that this life “is about relationship (#27).” This love will motivate us to be with others; this is the realization of being created in the image and likeness of God. Pope Benedict explains about being in relationship with God, “who is Life itself and Love itself, then we are in life. Then we ‘live’ (#28).” When we are in communion with Jesus we have established a relationship with God (#28). But being in relationship with Jesus demands that we are in relationship with others. Pope Benedict states, “Love of God leads to participation in the justice and generosity of God towards others. Loving God requires an interior freedom from all possessions and all material goods: the love of God is revealed in responsibility for others (#28).” An obvious example of St. Augustine is used to illustrate the above. Pope Benedict recounts the story of Augustine encountering God and wanting to retreat to a contemplative life, but is called to be a Bishop and lead the community of Hippo.

Love of God and love of neighbor are two points that are important in discernment for everyone. In a family, it is the parent’s responsibility to teach their children in the matters of faith, but as the child grows up, it is the responsibility of the child to discover and accept the gift of faith and freely cooperate with God’s grace. Parents need to understand that it is their responsibility to educate and encourage the child to grow in faith, but it is the responsibility of the child to discover and accept the gift of faith. The second point, love of neighbor, is important for discernment in that it helps us to discover concretely if we are living in hope. Love of God impels us to want to live for others. The main point for reflection is this: are we are more concerned with our belongings and ourselves than cooperating with God? This does not mean that material objects are evil, but if we are more inspired to accumulate and protect rather than to share and give, then we should ask ourselves how well are we cooperating with God’s grace. Are we really experiencing redemptive love and allowing God to work through us and responding generously to others?