Uncovering JOY

Uncovering JOY

1817 Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." "The Holy Spirit . . . he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life."

When we were studying Hope, I looked up Hope in the catechism for a definition.  It made me realize hope is not me, as one person, being Hopeful for a situation to work out (of course, this is what happens a lot in my life I pray for things to work out!), but it is the hope for something so much greater, which should transcend my wanting one thing to work out!  So that has been weighing on me to look higher, like Helen said, not to look down at the situation but up to God.  So, I really have been looking at that over Christmas time.  I now realize how much this is tied into JOY! So there are a lot of entries for joy in the catechism and the one I realize pertains to what I have been thinking about:

2648 Every joy and suffering, every event and need can become the matter for thanksgiving which, sharing in that of Christ, should fill one's whole life: "Give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thess 5:18).

When I have a difficult situation and I finally give it to God (if I just try to “fix” it myself –sometimes it is a MESS!), I pray for the situation and then I thank God.  The more I thank God the more comforted I am and that is when I SEE the joy.  It has been difficult to find the time to just BE – so many things need to be done.  So I am thoughtfully taking time to sit and pray.  I also want to go to adoration.  I am trying to focus more on the understanding that I have Jesus right in front of me all the time in the Eucharist. I so often think of how many of our ladies go to daily mass…so beautiful!   I read a booklet called “I wait for you” from a book called “The Way of Divine Love” from Sister Josefa Menendez (1890-1923).  It was a nun that Jesus appeared to and discussed the Eucharist.  I was struck by the beauty of the words……  “Still I wait all night and watch in the tabernacle for that soul….fervently hoping that she will come and receive Me... that she will converse with Me with all the trust of a bride... telling Me of her sorrows, her temptations, her sufferings…asking My advice and begging for the graces she needs for herself or others… Perhaps she has dependent on her or in her family souls that are in danger and far from Me?... “Come,” I say to her, “let us discuss everything with perfect freedom… Be concerned about sinners…Offer yourself to make reparation.. Promise Me that at least today you will not leave Me alone…”

So, I have been trying to not focus on the myopic issues that surround me, but instead on the higher amazing, incredible, wow!! ness of My God, My Lord, and all the “things” that He has done for me and then as pure Love from Jesus -  the Holy Spirit that is willing to indwell in the mess that I am….Hence JOY! 

And then when Deb Marley sent her reflection on the verses – it solidified it even more for me!  Thank you for sharing Deb! Deb's reflection on two of the verses: 

Phil 4:6-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice! Your kindness should be know to all. The Lord is near.

How awesome is it that Paul reminds us that we are not left alone or to our own strength, but that the Lord is near, with us, to guide us to protect and strengthen us and that knowledge in and of itself is worthy of rejoicing - To me, that knowledge of God’s presence and providence brings peace and joy - a rejoicing and gratitude in the omnipresence of God!

Romans 15:13 “May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I just love this verse - it really speaks to me about God’s Grace - in that God in whom hope is abundant fills me with joy and peace and fortifys my faithfulness to grow in joy and peace so that I may be full in the hope of God’s providence.. I don’t know if this makes sense- but this verse is very powerful to me and I will return to it frequently to consider its truth over and over again. - just love it!

Thank you all for your openness in bible study to enable us to really get in there and see where the topic of Joy can take us!  I am so thankful for all of you!