After Mass one Sunday I was approached by a parishioner with a question. She wanted to know if our resurrection is a given. When I said it was if we trusted in the Lord, she asked why then we say we hope for the resurrection in the Mass. Why would we hope for something we know will come?
The answer is that we have two types of hope. We have natural, or worldly hope, and we have supernatural hope.
Natural hope is the longing for something that may never be. I hope that the Cubs will win a World Series again in my lifetime. That may or may not happen. Chances are it won’t, so I hope all the more.
Supernatural hope is not the longing for something that will never be but the anticipation of a promise fulfilled. Jesus has promised that if we trust in him we will have everlasting life. We hope in the resurrection or we wait in anticipation for Jesus’ promise of everlasting life to come to fruition.
My hope is that the Cubs win the Series before my real hope in the resurrection is fulfilled.