COMPLETE JOY IN THE LOVE OF GOD - 05/19/22 (Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter)

John 15:9-11

9 As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

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Blessed Thursday! We are loved by God. There are times in our lives when we may feel as if God has forgotten us. And yet, the truth that God loves us will never change. This is revealed to us by our Lord, and as a response to His love, we are invited to abide in His love. This is done by being faithful to the commandments of God and to His will. True happiness is found in serving and glorifying our Lord. 

Jesus Christ speaks to us saying that His joy will be in us. This is the joy He has knowing that He is loved for eternity by the Father and the Holy Spirit. Our Lord, who wants us to abide in Him, desires to give His infinite mercy for us, so our joy will be complete in Him. To be loved by our Merciful God is more than enough for us to remain interiorly joyful amidst all trials we experience. However, due to our weaknesses, we may not easily recognize the presence of God's love for us. Because of this, some people are depending their happiness on temporary and material things which only give short happiness and will leave one empty. 

When we look at our riches, get our salary, buy extravagant things and many more, we may think as if we are the happiest in the world. And yet, these material things will not be with us forever. There can also be cases when, despite the blessings we receive, we may still be envious and sad if we see others who are richer than us or more successful than us. This shows that our happiness is not yet centered on the love of God. Rather, they are based on things that are not God and that are not for Him. In reality, in the eyes of our Lord, He is more concerned for us to be faithful to Him rather than for us yo seek satisfactions in worldly things. 

All of the material blessings we receive are enough for us to use them for the glory of God. When we see others who may have more riches than us, let us pray for them that they may see the will of God in the blessings they receive. Even if we are encountering difficulties in our life financially, it is an opportunity to depend solely on the will of God, and it is a reminder for us to trust in Him no matter what. Many saints lived a life of poverty. But, they are now richer than everyone of us here on earth because they are in heaven with Christ. Even if it's hard, let's not worry about the obstacles we have, and this starts by having a firm resolution of making God truly the center of our lives. 

Our joy will only be complete when we become aware of God's love for us and the reality of eternal life to those who follow His commandments. Jesus Christ knows our pains and weaknesses, and He is always waiting for us to turn to Him always. He should be our only joy here on earth. To love Him by doing His will, obeying His commandments and practicing the teachings of the Catholic Church should be our goal and purpose in every moment of our lives. May we put all of our hope in Jesus as we recognize that His infinite love alone will deliver us from evil and bring us to eternal happiness amidst the sufferings of this world. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic