Jesus said to the disciples,
“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down
with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life,
and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.”
~ Luke 21:34-36
Everyone wakes up in the morning expecting the day to be better than yesterday. Even during the worse of times, and maybe specially during such times, we hope that today is better than yesterday. And during good times, we fear the inevitable change and we get weighed down by the worries of life. But, man essentially lives in undying hope. The audacity of hope keeps us going on and moving forward. It is the drive that gets us up every morning.
And just what is it that we really hope for? This is from today’s First Reading:
John said:
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found anymore.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever.
Is this too much to hope for? Or is this the reality that awaits us in Christ?