Hope And Life

Et quia Dei opus misericordia, ut in familiam ejus recepti a dominatu malignorum horum liberemur; propheta orat dicens, Suscipe me secundum eloquium tuum, et vivam, et non confundas me ab expectatione mea. Propheta exspectat et sperat: nihil praesens, nihil temporarium sectatur. Plues autem sunt, qui hanc exspectationem fidei nostrae arguunt et irrident, dicentes talia: Quid jejunia, quid continentia, quid castitas, quid jactura patrimoniorum utilitatis auferet? Ubi spes vestra est, O Christiani? Mors aequaliter dominatur universorum: in omnium corporum naturas commune jus illi est. Quin etiam universis nos bonis saeculi frumur, et vitae verae licentia utimur: et in quo tandem nobis spei vestrae exspectatione praestatis? Non confundi ergo se in hac exspectatione sua Propheta orat: sed ut maneat confidens, et fructus verae illius vitae quam exspectat accipiat. Scit enim se nondum vivere, licet vivat. Vita enim nostra, secundum Apostolum, absconsa in Christo est. Et idcirco ait: Suscipe me secundum eloquium tuum, et viviam: quia verae illius et indeficientis vitae exspectatione ac spe detinetur. Sperat enim aeternitatem, sperat regnum coelorum, sperat regnum Dei, sperat spiritales benedictiones in coelestibus in Christo. In hac spe, in qua non confundetur, rogat ut suscipiatur et vivat. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum CXVIII Source: Migne PL 9.602b-603a

Since compassion is a work of God, the Prophet prays that, receiving him into His house, He free him from the power of the wicked, saying: 'Take me up according to your word and I shall live, and do not confound me in my expectation.' 1 The Prophet waits and hopes, attaching himself to nothing of the present, nothing transitory. Many there are who dispute and ridicule this expectation of our faith, saying such things as: 'Why with fasts and continence and chastit, and abstinence cast away the usefulness of your inheritance? Where is your hope, O Christians? Death equally dominates all things, it is common law set against every natural body. Whence we enjoy every good of the world, and make every use of this true life. In what way does your expectation surpass us?' Therefore the Prophet prays that he be not bewildered in his expectation, but that he remain confident and receive the fruit of the true life that he expects. For he knows he does not live yet, but that it is possible he may live. 'Our life,' according to the Apostle, 'is hidden in Christ.' 2 And therefore he says: 'Take me up according to your word, and I shall live,' because he is seized by the expectation and hope of the true and flawless life. He hopes for eternity, he hopes for the kingdom of heaven, he hopes for the kingdom of God, he hopes for spiritual blessings in the heavens with Christ. In this hope, in which he shall not be confounded, he asks that he be taken up and live. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 118 1 Ps 118.116 2 Colos 3.3