Today’s Readings:
Acts 15:7-21
Psalm 96:1-3,10
John 15:9-11
Joy is what we seek. Jesus assures us that if we keep His commands, joy will be our love language. "If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandment and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” We speak of happiness more than joy because we are more familiar with it. Psychologists say that happiness is “hedonic” (achieved through experiences of pleasure and enjoyment) while joy is “eudaimonic” (achieved through experiences of meaning and purpose). When you satisfy hunger, thirst, feelings of intimacy or shed off pain, the result is happiness—which often does not last. But when you find something you are good at and use it to serve others, you have found joy—which is often lasting.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church No. 2500 says “The practice of goodness is accompanied by spontaneous spiritual joy and moral beauty. Likewise, truth carries with it the joy and splendour of spiritual beauty.” In other words, we experience joy when we offer what is good to others and tell ourselves the truth. Selfishness and lying to oneself are the chief sources of unhappiness.
The joy that fed and sustained Jesus himself was not the sermons he gave, the sick he healed, even the dead he raised, but the relationship he had with His Father. The bottom of his joy was not what he did in the world but who he is (The Son of God). May your joy be renewed daily as you remain in God through Christ our Lord.
What are the things that steal our joy?
UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS steal our joy. Conflicts will come but when we let it fester and turn into bitterness, prolonged anger and resentment it prevents us from experiencing joy. You can overcome this by admitting how you feel, speaking about it to the offender and learning to forgive and let go of the hurt.
ENVY —it makes us feel less adequate and not good enough. Remember that God created you unique. Stop focusing on the highlights of other people’s lives. Discover and start using your gifts and watch how you will flourish and be joyful.
COMPLAINING —it tears down any good in and around us because it only focuses on the negative. As a result, we are hardly ever thankful for anything. You cannot complain and be grateful at the same time.
PRIDE —focuses on the self alone. We are not made to be alone. We were made for community and to find joy in living beyond ourselves by meeting the needs of others.
ANXIETY —This is “the perception of some future evil approaching which one feels unable to resist or overcome”. It is not up to you to control the future. Hand your worries to God in prayer. Focus on and be thankful for those things that are going well.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
MAY THE JOY OF CHRIST, THE GRACE OF GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, FILL MY HEART AND OVERFLOW INTO EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE. AMEN.
The peace and joy of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus, protect you from evil (human or spiritual) and lead you along the path of favour unto eternal life through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
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