Tag: Joy

Posted on

Minute Meditation – Carry the Light

“In the liturgy we relive the state of mind of the disciples over the news which the women had brought: Jesus is Risen! We have seen him! If only we were so luminous! But this is not just cosmetic! It comes from within, from a heart immersed in the source of this joy, like that of Mary Magdalene, who wept over the loss of her Lord and could hardly believe her eyes seeing him risen. Whoever experiences this becomes a witness of the Resurrection, for in a certain sense he himself has risen, she herself has risen. He or she is then capable of carrying a “ray” of light of the Risen One into various situations: to those that are happy, making them more beautiful by preserving them from egoism; to those that are painful, bringing serenity and hope.” —Pope Francis

One of Pope Francis’s favorite distinctions is the difference between joy and mere happiness. This is something that’s good to carry with us into the Easter season. His example of Mary Magdalene points to a key aspect of joy: It often follows a time of suffering, of disappointment, of struggle overcome and transformed. If Mary hadn’t cared so much for Jesus, her sense of loss wouldn’t have been as deep, but neither would her joy at their reunion. If we live our lives only on the surface, surrounding ourselves with acquaintances rather than real friends, we will find it difficult to experience deep emotions. Likewise, if our faith is only an intellectual exercise, a list of rules and doctrines instead of a personal encounter with the divine, we will miss the way it can truly change our hearts. One of the hallmarks of a true friend is someone who can accompany us through good times and bad, weeping and rejoicing as circumstances change. A genuine faith offers the same support. We are blessed if we have such friends, graced if we have such faith. 

Pope Francis reminds us that when we recognize the blessings in our lives, we will have a joy that we can share with others in good  times and bad. If someone has done this for you recently, take a moment to let them know. As you reflect on your own joy in this Easter season, find a way to share it with someone who needs a ray or two of Christ’s light in their lives. 

— from the book The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis,

by Diane M. Houdek

//Franciscan Media//

Posted on

Meditation of the Day – He Will Turn Your Sorrow to Joy

“Jesus will turn your sorrow into joy. One can only imagine the shock and bewilderment the Apostles felt when the Lord told them he must go away. Though they could not understand it at the time, his departure was for their benefit. The same is true of the unexpected setbacks and tragedies we experience in this life . . . When I consider the times when I have been confounded by events that seemed so contrary to what I thought God wanted for me, I should be mindful that they were permitted by the Lord’s inscrutable providence for my own good, as difficult as that might be to fathom.”— Patrick Madrid, p. 251

//The Catholic Company//

Posted on

Meditation of the Day – Sin Renders the Soul Miserable

“Thus sin renders the soul miserable, weak and torpid, inconstant in doing good, cowardly in resisting temptation, slothful in the observance of God’s commandments. It deprives her of true liberty and of that sovereignty which she should never resign; it makes her a slave to the world, the flesh, and the devil; it subjects her to a harder and more wretched servitude than that of the unhappy Israelites in Egypt or Babylon. Sin so dulls and stupefies the spiritual senses of man that he is deaf to God’s voice and inspirations; blind to the dreadful calamities which threaten him; insensible to the sweet odor of virtue and the example of the saints; incapable of tasting how sweet the Lord is, or feeling the touch of His benign hand in the benefits which should be a constant incitement to his greater love. Moreover, sin destroys the peace and joy of a good conscience, takes away the soul’s fervor, and leaves her an object abominable in the eyes of God and His saints. The grace of justification delivers us from all these miseries. For God, in His infinite mercy, is not content with effacing our sins and restoring us to His favor; He delivers us from the evils sin has brought upon us, and renews the interior man in his former strength and beauty. Thus He heals our wounds, breaks our bonds, moderates the violence of our passions, restores with true liberty the supernatural beauty of the soul, reestablishes us in the peace and joy of a good conscience, reanimates our interior senses, inspires us with ardor for good and a salutary hatred of sin, makes us strong and constant in resisting evil, and thus enriches us with an abundance of good works. In fine, He so perfectly renews the inner man with all his faculties that the Apostle calls those who are thus justified new men and new creatures.”— Venerable Louis Of Grenada, p. 46

//The Catholic Company//

Posted on

Sermon Notes – Everlasting Joy

“For Everlasting Joy, Pray for More of the Who and not the What”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

November 18 – 19, 2018

Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, was a contagious and deadly disease, so the ten lepers in Luke 17: 11-19 each had a very heavy cross to bear. However, it was because of the leprosy, their crosses, that they encountered Jesus Christ. It was because of their faith in Him that they were healed and given the gift of life. It’s also why their story is still being taught today, 2,000 years later, so that we can learn from it. There’s another lesson we can learn from the lepers. Even though all ten were healed, just one came back to thank Jesus. Be sure to thank Him for your blessings!

Our crosses are His greatest gift to us, but we pray for them to be taken away instead of using them to help others. You cannot help, or even understand, combat veterans and others who have been to hell and back unless you’ve been there yourself.

Jesus did not ask the lepers if they were worthy, if they loved their dogs, or if they tithed at church. He gave them their lives back because of His great love for all of us. Christ says that greater gifts are in store for us. All of His gifts are just little hints of His love. Sometimes, He shows us greater love by not giving us what we want. You can be sure that when He says “No”, it’s for a bigger and better reason.

We pray too small….and it saddens our Lord. Often, we ask for things and not for a closer relationship with Him. Pray BIG. Pray for the “Who” and not more of the “what.” He wants to give us the gift of Himself…the greatest gift of all, and if you have Him, you have everything.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you pray BIG by asking for a closer relationship with Him? Will you thank Him for your blessings as well as your crosses?