Saint Paul exhorts us with these
uplifting words: “Rejoice in the Lord; I
say it again: rejoice in the Lord.” (Phil. 4:4).
St. Ignatius of Loyola in the
Spiritual Exercises in the fourth week, the week in which we contemplate the
Risen Lord Jesus, insists that in contemplating the Risen Lord Jesus who came
to console that we beg for joy, but not a partial or mediocre joy but to beg
for “most intense joy.”
His predecessor, Pope Paul VI, penned
a spiritual masterpiece, with the title
Gaudete in Domino---On Christian Joy. This Apostolic Exhortation was promulgated May
9, 1975, the twelfth of his pontificate.
The successor of Peter encourages us to rejoice in the Lord! Pope Paul VI explains joy as found in both
the Old Testament and the New Testament, then in the hearts of the saints, then
in the hearts of all people and the young. Especially that year—1975—which was
a Jubilee year. All the world is called
to rejoice in the Lord!
Finally Our Lady teaches us in her
sublime hymn of praise why we are here on earth and the joy that should radiate
from our hearts in her “Magnificat” with these words: “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior.” (Lk. 1:47)
Saint Philip Neri, known as the
joyful saint, who was known to carry with him constantly a joke book coined
this poetic phrase in Italian: “Tristeza
y melancolia, fuera de casa mia”. Translation in English: “Sadness and
melancholy, out of my house!” (No rhyme
in English!)
Therefore, let us strive with all of
our hearts to live in the joy of the Gospel, the joy of the Risen Jesus, the
joy of the saints, and the joy of the Blessed Virgin Mary! The following are five simple reasons to
abound in joy!
1.
THE INDWELLING OF THE TRINITY IN
GRACE! If you are baptized and living in
the state of sanctifying grace then the Blessed Trinity is living in the very
depths of your soul. The three Divine Persons are living Guests within your
inmost being. This reality should catapult you into the heights of joy. This theology of the “Indwelling” is a
hallmark of Carmelite Spirituality—Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Therese
of Lisieux, Benedicta of the Cross, Teresa of the Andes, and Elizabeth of the
Trinity—to mention a few!
2.
GET A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR
FRIENDS! The Beatles sang this song in
the 60’s. We can sing it always with a
little different interpretation. Our best
of Friends should be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. However, there are countless
other friends that we call the “Saints” who are in heaven. Still they long for
friendship with those who are still living on earth. Our contact with friends
on earth is limited by time, space, and the circumstances of life. Not so with the saints! At any time, place, and moment that we so
desire we can lift our heart, mind and thoughts to the saints and they are with
us. The saints are kind, loving, patient, never in a hurry and always willing
and ready to lend us a hand, send us an inspiration and console and encourage
us on the highway to holiness. May Saint John Paul II and Saint John XXIII be
your constant travelling companions on your heavenly pilgrimage!
3.
DIVINE MERCY! God is slow to anger and quick to forgive.
We all too often are quick to anger and slow to forgive. What a consoling message it is to have the
firm conviction of God’s infinite love and mercy that He has especially for the
biggest sinners and the weakest person on the face of the earth. Even though we
should daily fight energetically against all enticements to sin, if we fall we
should turn back to Our Loving Father immediately “Nunc coepi!”—Now
I begin anew! God forgives us in less than a heartbeat as soon
as we beg forgiveness! How great our God is! According to the revelations to
Saint Faustina from Jesus the worse sin is the failure to TRUST in God’s loving
Kindness and mercy. May we repeat time
and time again: JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!
4.
HOLY SPIRIT. There are many beautiful and poetic titles
for the Holy Spirit: “Paraclete, Consoler, Counselor, Finger of
God, Sanctifier, Uncreated Love, Sweet Guest of the soul”. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are many and
one of these is JOY! Spend some time
reading the Acts of the Apostles and observe how many times the word joy is
mentioned. Even when the Apostles were arrested, falsely accused, imprisoned
and even beaten for the sake of the Name of Jesus, they rejoiced! If the Holy Spirit is dwelling in the inner
recesses of your heart, joy should be constant and overflowing! Remember the
words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord! I say it
again: rejoice in the Lord!” With
the Holy Spirit always present to you, rejoice in all times and places!
5.
HEAVEN!
The Easter Season is a time of great rejoicing in the Risen Lord Jesus. It is also a time to reflect upon why Jesus
came to earth, lived among us, suffered His bitter Passion and rose from the
dead—to give us life and life in abundance. He Himself said: “I have come to give you life
and life in abundance.” Jesus promised
His faithful followers Heaven! “I am
going now to prepare a place for you so that where I am you also might be. In
my Father’s house there are many mansions.”
What joy to be convinced of the reality that Jesus already has an
enormous mansion prepared for me in heaven, and right now! We should spend more time in meditating on
the reality of heaven which is our ultimate destiny. St. Paul reminds us: “the sufferings of the present cannot be
compared to the glory that awaits the sons and daughters of God….’ And “Eye has
not seen, ear has not heard nor has it
entered into the mind of man the wonderful things that God has prepared for
those who love Him.”
CONCLUSION. Let us lift our heart, mind, soul and gaze to
Mary, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and our mother, and beg her for
a constant and overflowing joy. May her song of praise be ours too: “My soul does magnify the Lord and my spirit
rejoices in God my Savior…”(Lk. 1: 47)
