In Holy Scripture, we encounter two perspectives on how the future is perceived: the apocalyptic, anticipating upheaval before justice prevails, and the prophetic, likened to the steady journey to the Promised Land. The prophetic perspective is not marked by catastrophe but by gradual progress, shaped by a vision of a better world.
What kind of politics are Christians called to live? In this Jubilee of Hope, we are invited to embrace a politics of hope. We have the grace of free will, which gives us the strength to overcome the present. Additionally, we also have the grace of repentance, through which we can overcome the past. This is the power of the politics of hope; it enables us to live with joy and enthusiasm what God has prepared for those whom he loves. By God’s grace, we are not a people of despair but pilgrims of hope.
Micah 6:8 calls us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. By cultivating virtue and committing ourselves to noble deeds, we contribute to a more just and compassionate world. Even the smallest acts of love, like seeds sown in darkness, have the power to grow and bear fruit. “It is never too late to touch the heart of another” (Spe Salvi, 48).
Our prophetic calling as Christians is to live a politics of hope, bearing witness to the Gospel through our lives. Hope compels us to serve, love, and transform the world in which we live. In this Jubilee of Hope, may we embrace a politics of hope, allowing God to shape us as we offer a vision of a redeemed world, marked by the love of Christ.
