102 THE FAITHFUL READER eucatastrophe in fiction is only a faint and finite representation of the joy of the good news of the Gospel, it reminds the reader that in the end evil will not win. It reminds the reader that when all hope seems lost, God is still at work to accomplish His sovereign plan. In his letters, Tolkien points to the Resurrection as the great eucatastrophe in human and redemptive history. What at first appears to be an utter defeat, Jesus’ death on the cross, becomes an ultimate victory over death in His Resurrection. In the Gospels, after Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples and the women who followed Jesus are weeping and mourning over His death. But as they approach His tomb in sorrow, their mourning is suddenly turned to great joy as they learn that the tomb is empty and He has risen from the dead (Matthew 28:8, Mark 16:10-11)! A skilled author like Tolkien, inspired by the eucatastrophic joy of the Gospel, can craft moments of lesser eucatastrophe in their fictional works that elicit joy in their reader because they provide a glimpse into the true joy of the Gospel.
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