How Hope and Joy Move Us

How Hope and Joy Move Us
by Fr. Joseph Evinger

I can remember when Dad and Mom invited a family or two out to our place. When the visitors arrived it was always a good day, a joyful day. There were stories to listen to. There were Mom’s best-cooked meals. The house was clean.

Before the people arrived there was work to be done, preparation that was needed. One had to clean the upstairs, and give even a better cleaning downstairs. Summer meant clipping the grass around the fences, coral, and grain bins, mowing the lawn, sweeping the sidewalk. For a young lad and his siblings this was hard work. But because someone was coming to visit the work was made easier. The joy which came from the presence of visitors moved us to cooperate and understand why the work needed to be done. While working, one could almost feel or hold the joy of the good and joyful day to come.

Something similar happens when a man and woman marry, (assuming they have been living as unmarried people up to that point). They long for that joyful day. The joy to come moves them to prepare. Yet in one sense the joy to come already exists. Hope fills one now with joy of the not yet.

Yes. Some people prepare for these events out of obligation. The work needs to be done, so they do it. However, the work is much easier, and more easily done when it is moved by joy and love, moved by the good thing to come.

The whole point of the paschal season is that we are reminded of the joyful triumph of eternal life, Jesus’ triumph over death in us. We saw it happen in him, now we long for it in us. As we meditate on heaven and realize that we will enjoy the great community of angels and saints in heaven, let us choose to be filled with hope and joy already now. This hope and the joy that comes with hope will allow us to prepare for life with God more easily.

Then on that day of eternal victory over death we will witness with our own eyes the beauty and joy of eternal communion with God among the community of angels and saints. There will be stories to listen to, God’s best cooked meals, and the house will be forever clean.