Among the good feelings in life is the sense of accomplishment of a job completed. Sometimes it is a relief like when we complete our taxes. At other times, it’s a joy like we have found the perfect gift for someone whom we love. It is especially rich when we have had a goal and have brought it to realization. It must be something like what Olympic athletes feel when they stand on the podium to receive a gold medal and hear their national anthem played. St. Paul uses such a metaphor to describe his journey of faith, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8) To see the faith journey in such terms is inspiring. It echoes Jesus’ parable words, “Well done good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord.” What can be greater praise than “well done”? What child would not love to hear those words from a parent? To come to the end of our earthly life and hear “well done” from our heavenly Lord surely would make our trials and temptation trivial in comparison. I know that sometimes saying, “It is finished,” can be the word of pain ending. Perhaps it was so when Jesus said those words from the cross, but I think he also knew that he had achieved what he was sent to do and could find joy even in the midst of his pain. I believe in that moment that he heard the voice of the Heavenly Father say, “Well done, my Son, I am well pleased with you.”