Heaven-Bound: The Power of Perseverance

Hope and Perseverance 

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us look at the relationship between hope and perseverance. First, imagine you haven’t seen a loved one in a long time. They live in another country, and the trip would be expensive, not to mention the time off from work and time away from your family and daily responsibilities. Nevertheless, you determine it would be worth the sacrifice to make the trip.  

Planning the Reunion 

After much planning, the dates are set, and you know how much it will cost personally and financially to make the trip. It will require saving money on expenses, staying healthy, and working longer to fulfill responsibilities at work. Yet, despite the sacrifices, you are determined to persevere because of the hope set in your heart for this reunion with your loved one. Nothing will prevent you from going.   

On a natural level, the potential happiness of this trip has set a goal within your heart, highlighting the relationship between hope and perseverance. Now, let’s look at this relationship with another destination in mind: heaven.  

Aiming for Heaven 

Considering our previous example, the supernatural relationship of hope and perseverance quickly comes into view. Hope enables one to desire God above all things and trust Him for our salvation. Of course, this doesn’t mean we float through life and presume heaven is our last stop. Just like planning the trip to visit a loved one, it takes sacrifice and perseverance to reach our final destination. Notice what is primary and has to exist: a relationship. God is the object of the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, and these gifts, infused at Baptism, enable us to know, trust, and love Him.  

Joy in Endurance 

Perseverance aids us in embracing the daily challenges and difficulties we encounter as we set our eyes on the final destination. When we live with this supernatural perspective, the Holy Spirit’s fruit of joy buoys us up, as we experience the deep satisfaction of persevering and living as a “good and faithful servant.”