Happy Happy Joy Joy

 

It is the usual state of the world that the lunatics are in charge of the asylum; that, as Jack Kerouac put it, the cream sinks to the bottom.

This must be in the divine plan. If we did good only to achieve worldly success, there would be no merit in doing good. It would be mere self-interest. 

We must do our best knowing that, given the ways of the world, we are as or more likely to be punished for it than rewarded. We do good, or create beauty, or seek truth, because it is right, not for reward.

We have hopes for the next life. But this requires the virtue of faith. We trust in God.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

This makes the “happy happy joy joy” sort of Christianity profoundly sinister. This life is the vale of soul-making, of testing and trial. If you are having a very good time here, something is gravely wrong. You have given in to the world’s temptations. “Blessed are those who mourn.” “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.”