Joy

On this rainy day with the threat of a freeze and snow later today, the definitive marks of the end of summer, let us look at a quality, a gift, that goes much deeper than the weather. Pope Paul VI wrote in Gaudete in Domino (Rejoice in the Lord), "...it is necessary here below to undestand properly he secret of the unfathomable joy which dwells in Jesus and which is special to Him. It is especially the Gospel of Saint John that lifts the veil.... If Jesus radiates such peace, such assurance, such happiness, such availability, it is by reason of the inexpressible love by which He knows that He is loved by His Father." We know this formula to be true...when we see happy people with these qualities of peace, assurance and availability, flexibility, openess, generosity of heart, we just have to meet their families to see where these qualities come from. Gerald O'Collins, noted spiritual writer of 30 books, writes: "Jesus reminds us how joy, even indescribable joy, is woven into the very texture of love. Joy inevitably accompanies real love and all those occasions which in a particular way celebrate and express our love for one another: a birth, baptism bar mitzvah, a wedding, and ordination, and even a funeral. We happily join our special friends or take part in family reunions. there is no more obvious spin-ff form love than joy." Our Marist spirituality and pedagogy are based on love for this reason: it is the most effective way of influence, forming, healing (when necessary), those with whom we come into contact. Let not the rain nor the snow, then prevent us from radiating the joy that flows from love.
Bro. Rene