Peace be with you!
Join Fr. Freeh and parishioners Vicki Phillips and Pat Henry in a discussion of joy.
Not to be sacriligious but, for me, “Joy” is as big a mystery as the Holy Trinity.
As the irrefutable proof of God’s existence, it makes sense that all people of faith have access to joy. (It also explains why I’ve never met a joyful atheist.)
Joy also seems to be a proof of the ability of the human person to participate in the life of God. It seems we are joyful to the extent that we allow the immortal Godhead to penetrate our lives. And Christian joy is of a whole different order, an intimate relationship with the God Who suffered, died, and rose from the dead for our salvation: “We have seen the Lord!”
The ultimate example of this is, of course, the Virgin Mary’s joy when the Word of God was incarnated in her. But we also speak of her sorrows, chief among them the Passion and Death of her Son. The greatest of joy, the greatest of sorrow, coexisting in the same heart.
Joy isn’t thick on the ground in our world. We’re good at shutting God out of every nook and cranny of our lives, thereby shutting out the Source of joy. But even today, joy shows up in the most unlikely places–and more often than not, tied to great sorrow:
A friend with terminal cancer who radiates joy, sharing with us a piece of the Heaven she’s going to. A couple of weeks ago, I saw a youtube video of a little girl in a Middle East refugee camp, and her eyes were brimming with joy as she spoke of forgiving the ISIS terrorists who forced her from her home; as she sang a hymn to Jesus.
Unlike happiness, joy can’t be pursued. Happiness flees from sadness and trials. Joy accepts, rises above…even rejoices in the trials of life. Because suffering is also a participation in the Divine Life. Whenever I see a truly joyful person, I wonder what suffering coexists in their heart.
The mystery seems to be all about seeing the Lord in even the dark places…especially the dark places. Joyful eyes see the Lord wherever they turn.
This Sunday’s readings: April 26, 2015
Next Sunday’s reading: May 3, 2015
Good News Spirituality 