Feeding on the Word of God - Joy!

“O that today you would listen to his voice: harden not your hearts.”

Beloved Walkers, 

‘Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the God who saves us!’ (Ps. 94) We are grateful to be able to share this week’s Word with you.

This week let us contemplate the great gift of Joy! 

What Our Holy Father teaches about Joy!

One of the main themes taught by the Holy Father is that joy comes from the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. (1, Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis)

The Gospel, radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice. A few examples will suffice. 

• “Rejoice!” is the angel’s greeting to Mary (Lk 1:28). 
• Mary’s visit to Elizabeth makes John leap for joy in his mother’s womb (cf. Lk 1:41). 
• In her song of praise, Mary proclaims: “My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Lk 1:47). 
• When Jesus begins his ministry, John cries out: “For this reason, my joy has been fulfilled” (Jn 3:29). Jesus himself “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” (Lk 10:21). His message brings us joy: “I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11). Our Christian joy drinks of the wellspring of his brimming heart. He promises his disciples: “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (Jn 16:20). He then goes on to say: “But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (Jn16:22). 
• The disciples “rejoiced” (Jn 20:20) at the sight of the risen Christ. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that the first Christians “ate their food with glad and generous hearts” (2:46). Wherever the disciples went, “there was great joy” (8:8); even amid persecution they continued to be “filled with joy” (13:52). The newly baptized eunuch “went on his way rejoicing” (8:39), while Paul’s jailer “and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God” (16:34). 
• Why should we not also enter into this great stream of joy? (I, 5, Evangeli Gaudium, Pope Francis)

There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty. Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved. I understand the grief of people who have to endure great suffering, yet slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress: “My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is… But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness… It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam 3:17, 21-23, 26). (I, 6, Evangeli Gaudium, Pope Francis) 

What do the Scriptures and the Church teach us about Joy? 

The joy of being a people chosen and saved by God 

Jeremiah 31:7 For the Lord says this: Shout with joy for Jacob! Hail the chief of nations! Proclaim! Praise! Shout! ‘The Lord has saved his people, the remnant of Israel!’

God invites us to rejoice with Him, and to share with others the same joy

Nehemiah 8:10 And he said to them: Go, eat fat meats, and drink sweet wine, and send portions to them that have not prepared for themselves: because it is the holy day of the Lord, and be not sad: for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

True joy comes from the Holy Spirit, not in material possessions or riches

Romans 15: 17 (because) the kingdom of God does not mean eating or drinking this or that, it means righteousness and peace and joy brought by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, Joy of all our desires

• The true source of joy: O Jesus, grant that I may seek my joy, my good, only in participation in Your interior life, and put all my glory in it. (116, To be hidden with Christ in God, Divine Intimacy, Fr Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen, O.C.D)
• I want you to be happy always, for cheerfulness is an essential part of your way. Pray that the same supernatural joy be granted to us all. (665, Cheerfulness, The Way, St Josemaria Escriva)
• With you, Jesus, what joy in suffering, what light in darkness! (229, Penance, The Way, St Josemaria Escriva)
• Let me find my true peace in the fulfilment of Your Holy Will. Fill my soul with the joy of possessing You more consciously in my thoughts and in my every act. Amen. (Ch 18, Book 3, My Daily Bread, Anthony J. Paone, S.J)

Practical ways of embracing the gift of Joy 

1. Try our best to be cheerful
2. Joy in adversity
3. Rejoicing with others
4. Spending the Lord’s Day joyfully (Rest, service, praise)
5. Receiving Our Lord joyfully in the Eucharist
6. Sharing the joy of the Gospel with others

Reflection Question: When was the last time I experienced the joy of being a child of God? Was I eager to share the joy with others?

Life is a long Lent, but we are an Easter people. Rejoice in the Lord always! Amen.