Hope is Free

A coworker of mine and I were talking before the All School Mass this week. I mentioned something to her about corny Catholic jokes because I had just asked someone, “How was your Easter?” And the joke should have been on me, “What do you mean? Easter isn’t over. We are still celebrating!”

(ba-dum ching)

Happy Easter, everyone!! May the joyful Easter season overflow into your lives as a reminder of Christ’s love for each one of us.

This past Easter Monday there should have been great joy in my heart. We were fresh off Easter Sunday. Father had made the whole church repeat “Happy Easter” three times, each time with more gusto on Sunday morning to make a point that we should be celebrating. The kids and I were off from school on Easter Monday. And yet, for a couple hours on Easter Monday, my heart was heavy. I focused on the news that a dear friend’s cancer had returned.

Well, the risen Lord was close by on Easter Monday because He sent me a clear message in those heavy moments: “Hope is free.”

Hope IS free. It wasn’t always free. We were just reminded that Jesus paid the ultimate price for it. Hope was bought and paid for on Good Friday. Thanks be to God, we are able to live in Hope and live with Hope. The Hope that the Resurrection brought and continues to bring to us each Church year is real.

Hope is free. It is a virtue freely given. When we receive it with open arms, we place our trust in Christ's promises and rely not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1817). With Hope, we don’t have to shoulder things alone.

I took some time to think about Hope this week. What a gift of our religion it is. What is my posture toward Hope? Do I approach Hope with full acceptance, or do I tend to rely on my own strength? Does Hope bring me peace, or do I allow negative thoughts to infiltrate my mind? When I run out of Hope, do I remember that I have other people who will provide Hope for me, as we truly are members of one Body.

Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5). The readings this week have been full of Hope (by design!). In fact, if we only had a week of Scripture to read and learn from, this week has been a pretty great one. Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid.” He calls us each by name. We are reminded on the road to Emmaus that Jesus seeks us. He asks us how we are doing. He listens. He breaks bread with us and for us. Jesus tells us, “Peace be with you.” Over and over again, Jesus reveals himself to us. He feeds the disciples, and he desires to feed each one of us in the breaking of the bread. What Hope-filled words!

Hope is free. It wasn’t always free, but it is now. God knew I needed to hear that, and maybe even share the message with those of you that could use it. May you continue to have a joyful and Hope-filled Easter season!