A Gift of Joy and Hope

Joy is a central point of reference in all Pope Francis's teaching - a theme that's even more necessary in difficult times. God is joyful, asserts the Pope. And God's compassion, to which Pope Francis has dedicated the Jubilee - the foundational act of his pontificate - is no less than the deepest manifestation of God's joy, and the heart of all Christian preaching. The liberating revolution of the Gospel - and, in truth, all of Christianity - is encapsulated here. We are not supposed to mortify the flesh or carry burdens heavier than those we already have, but to bear witness to a new, beautiful and surprising horizon: to share a joy that has been prepared for everyone. And in fact this joy changes us in the very moment we are ready to welcome it. The Pope's words are a constant invitation to embrace authentic beauty and to open oneself to encountering God; to change attitudes that exclude others; to reveal the deep dissatisfaction we all hide; and to overcome life's challenges with courage and faith, without being overwhelmed by sadness and pessimism. True joy is not an ephemeral sentiment, nor an illusory antidote to suffering; it springs from a solid hope that nothing and no one can take away. It is joy that has the last word - always. It is the sharing of a smile, the first small yet significant step to try something new, to renew oneself - to be reborn.