During the wild 1970’s, I encountered the peace movement. Mahatma Gandhi had a large following at the time. I remember reading an interview with him. He was asked if he had ever considered becoming a Christian since his non-violent teaching was similar to the teachings of Jesus. He replied that he had investigated the Church and the person of Jesus and was very impressed, but was unimpressed with the lack of joy among Jesus’ followers. If anyone truly believed that Jesus was who He said He was and professed to be His disciples, then they should be filled with joy. He hadn’t found that true, so Christianity did not appeal to him. Lack of joy is a poor witness to the love of Jesus.
As I age, I often ask myself why there isn’t more joy in my life as a disciple of Jesus. Recently, I heard four young adults share their call to be missionaries to the people of Cambodia. They had been attracted to the Cambodian people by the simplicity and joy amidst extreme poverty. Only 1% of their population knows Jesus and professes a faith in Him. The joy in these young missionaries was very evident as they were willing to experience depriving themselves of the many comforts in order to live with the Cambodians to serve them and ultimately bring them the love and joy of Jesus. I pondered again: Am I a person of joy? Does my relationship with Jesus cause me great joy? If not, why not?
The Scriptures tell us that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The lives of the saints show us that we can be joy-filled people even in the midst of prison and torture. Joy has to be more than a passing feeling. Joy is something we can make a decision for and take steps to cultivate.
Pope Benedict XVI said in his Christmas address to the Roman Curia in 2008. “The Holy Spirit gives us joy. And he is joy. Joy is the gift in which all the other gifts are included. It is the expression of happiness, of being in harmony with ourselves, that which can only come from being in harmony with God and with his creation. It belongs to the nature of joy to be radiant; it must communicate itself. The missionary spirit of the Church is none other than the impulse to communicate the joy which has been given.”
Satan can fabricate false peace. He does it all the time in the world, but he can’t fabricate joy. Joy comes as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. For those baptized and not living in a state of mortal sin, the fullness of the Spirit resides in us. Are we cultivating and cooperating with His graces? We need to ask the Holy Spirit to stir into flame the fire of His love within, that we may be a person of joy belonging to a people of joy.
For Reflection:
Is my joy a feeling or a state of being from having a personal relationship with God? Is my joy radiant and communicated with others? Do I cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit that fills me with joy?
Closing Prayer:
Fill me with Your joy O Lord, a joy that withstands the storms of life.
(Blogged January 1, 2024)
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