“the joy of the Lord is your strength” Nehemiah 8:10
“Fill me with joy and gladness” Psalm 51:8
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” Psalm 51:12
Too many Catholics go through life today with a lack of joy. Their faith and Jesus are burdensome, heavy work of prayers and church. Everything is done as a must do – like it or not.
“From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us!” St. Theresa of Avila
What if we ask God to restore the joy of faith? To give us back the joy of salvation? The world would change.
When the soul is filled with joy and gladness of the presence of God, it and everything changes. That holy hour in adoration passes too quickly. Prayer becomes a special moment not a task.
The Lord recently gave me a sense of Himself in the Trinity for a moment. I was overwhelmed to tears with joy. I can only imagine when the day comes that I stand within the Joy forever. Overwhelming.
We need to stop walking the Road of Faith as a burdensome journey, like a forced 5 mile run. We need to let go of the burdensome feelings, offer them up to the cross of Jesus and ask God to return our joy (or give us joy if we’ve never had it).
We need to sing to God to return this joy to our soul that we may be lifted up within His Joy. Ask God. Let Him return the ‘Joy of the Lord’ that it may be our strength and shield.
“Oh, what great happiness fills my heart from knowing God and the divine life! It is my desire to share this happiness with all people. I cannot keep this happiness locked in my own heart alone, for His flames burn me” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 491
With the shield of Joy rising up within us, rising up from our hearts, everything changes. The ‘Joy of the Lord’ is a true game changer. With the ‘Joy of the Lord’ rising through the heart, the soul will literally glow with the Light of the Lord. Nothing will be work again, even suffering will be joy.
Let the joy of the Lord rise among us. Let the joy of the Lord rise within us. Let it rise. Come Holy Spirit!
““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”” Matthew 11:28-30