Joy

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Joy

Hope   Truth

Keep   Commandments   Teaching

If You Love Me

Indwelling

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 14: 15

Jesus was speaking to His apostles after the Last Supper and said:

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

Reflection

As you reflect on your life, what are the moments that have given you the most joy?

I can think of the first time I met my wife to be. I was going into my senior year in college and told my good friend who was with me that this is the girl I am going to marry. He thought I was crazy!

I saw and felt something very special. She was a person of joy. I loved her laugh and her honesty. I knew that she was a person with whom I could share my hopes and dreams.

She had a passion for the truth. She would always speak frankly and had a great ability to read the hearts of people.

In our reading from John, Jesus connects love for Him with keeping the commandments He has given to us. Those commandments are handed down by God to Moses and through him to our Jewish sisters and brothers and all peoples.

The commandments teach us to respect God and to respect the human dignity of each person. We might wonder how the commandments can lead us to joy.

When I met Kathy and experienced that joy, I knew instinctively through our communication that she was a person who respected God and our sisters and brothers. I knew the commandments were a true and lasting foundation for real joy and not the fleeting pleasure of a moment.

Joy comes when we embrace the teaching of Jesus. He has told us that His mission is to bring us joy---joy to the full.

We unfortunately sometimes have the impression that religious people are just dour rule followers who are afraid to experience life. When we look at the patriarchs, the prophets, the wisdom teachers, the disciples of Jesus, and the saints, we see just the opposite: they all embraced life, the commandments, and the joy that comes from giving to others.

Jesus teaches that if we love Him, we will keep the commandments. We keep them because we know that they are the foundation for a life of joy. We read every day about the sadness that comes to people who lie, cheat, and kill. We know that they need healing in their souls so that they too can experience true joy---the joy that Jesus wants to give.

That joy will dwell within us. We can never lose it even in the midst of adversity and challenge. It is why Jesus came to us. 

It is the GIFT that Jesus wants for us. Pope Francis aptly named his first apostolic exhortation The Joy of the Gospel. He underscored that it was Good News and it was for ALL.

I felt it when I first met Kathy. I knew it was God's GIFT for me. I thank God for that GIFT every day.

Know that God wants that joy for you. 

Always!

1. What are some of your greatest moments of joy?

2. Why do some people have the impression that religious people are joyless?

3. How can the commandments help you to find joy?

4. Do you see the Gospel as Good News?

5. Where do you see joy in Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John McNamara)