Thursday, December 5, 2013

"Jesus is joyful"

Ave Maria!  Yesterday in his homily, Pope Francis spoke of the Lord's joy.
"Jesus was full of joy...  His inner joy comes precisely from this relationship with the Father in the Holy Spirit. And this is the joy he gives to us, and this joy is true peace. It is not a static, quiet, tranquil peace: Christian peace is a joyful peace for Jesus is joyful, God is joyful."
Christ shares His joy with us.  In John's Gospel, our Lord tells us "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).  Every word God speaks to us is a harbinger of joy.  In His presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 15:11).  Jesus Himself is our joy, and we have His promise that no one will take our joy away from us (John 16:22). 

As the Holy Father concluded:
“A Church without joy is unthinkable... Jesus has desired that his bride, the Church, be joyful...  The joy of the Church is to announce the name of Jesus, and to proclaim: My spouse is the Lord, he is God who saves us and accompanies us." 
Today and always, may the joy of the Lord be our strength (Nehemiah 8:10)!

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