The first sentence of the next paragraph of Spe salvi offers a simple, yet profound truth that is really at the heart of the Gospel message in general, and in particular as we consider the faith amid such rapid progress in science and technology in modern times. Pope Benedict writes: “It is not science that redeems man: man is redeemed by love.” (SS 26)
The Holy Father notes how the human experience of falling in love has a redeeming effect in our lives, such that when one encounters love, one finds new meaning in life. No doubt any married couple can speak about this reality, as they recall with fondness their initial encounter of love which would open the door to a new direction in life that would include the other person in the bond of matrimony, living no longer as two, but one flesh. Even as great as this love can be, the pope acknowledges that even this type of love has limits:
But soon he will also realize that the love bestowed upon him cannot by itself resolve the question of his life. It is a love that remains fragile. It can be destroyed by death. (ibid.)
With that in mind, the Holy Father can then conclude: “The human being needs unconditional love.” (ibid.) He uses the words of St. Paul to explain what, or rather who, this unconditional love is:
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:38- 39)
This is always a timely message, but I think especially in light of the topic of faith and hope in the midst of our modern times. There are so many messages that try to pull us into finding hope in things other than the unconditional love of God. We are presented with conditional messages that promise us something if we but follow that particular path. If you eat this type of food, you will be healthy, you will have more energy, you will delay the inevitability of death. If you invest in this particular asset, you will be financially secure, you will have enough money to make you happy, to provide for all of your dreams. If you engage in this exercise routine, you will stay looking young and healthy, such that others will find you attractive and worth their attention.
These are but a few examples of some of the ideas and promises that we can be drawn into following, often to the exclusion of prioritizing the unconditional love of God in our lives. But when we allow our lives to be rooted in His love, we are able to face whatever may come with a peace of heart that is grounded in the hope of God’s love for us – present, though sometimes hidden, in our lives now, and waiting to be fulfilled fully in eternal life. Only in choosing the unconditional love of God can we be assured of a hope “that does not disappoint.” (Rom 5:5)