Pope Francis: The anticipation of eternal life is the source and reason for our hope

(CNA/EWTN News) During his general audience on December 4, Pope Francis reflected on the resurrection of the body, explaining that we are “imprinted” with eternal life, which we are able to experience even now through the sacraments.

“Dear brothers and sisters,” he began, “today we look again at the affirmation: “I believe in the resurrection of the body,” highlighting three different aspects of the relationship between Christ's resurrection and our own.

First of all, noted the pontiff, “the Gospel reveals to us that our faith in the resurrection is bound to the person of Jesus Christ, who himself said ‘I am the resurrection and the life.$0"2$

This proclamation, the Pope stated, “is not easy to understand” because we are “immersed in this world,” however “the Gospel clarifies it to us: the fact that Jesus resurrected is the proof that the resurrection of the dead exists.”

In the Gospel, observed the pontiff, “the Risen Christ gives his disciples the Holy Spirit as a pledge of communion with God which has its fullness in eternity.”

“The anticipation of eternal life is the source and reason for our hope. If this hope is cultivated,” he explained, “It illuminates our lives as persons and communities.”

Read full text: Pope: 'seed of eternity' has been planted in our hearts