Yesterday I met up with a friend of mine who's a non-denominational Christian pastor here in Redwood City. We were drinking coffee together at a cafe downtown.
We were discussing our faith. We shared with each other the challenges we face as we strive to love God and our neighbor.
We both spoke of people who are tremendously joyous. I mentioned that years ago I had read how a Jesuit priest had written that he had met a joyous man in Africa. The priest asked the young man why he felt such joy. The man replied that he deeply treasured his relationship with Jesus. This man utterly trusted Jesus. When we totally trust God, and have complete confidence in Him, we empty ourselves of our delusions about our capabilities. Admitting that only God can deliver us, having emptied ourselves of our insistence on independence from God, God can fill our hearts with His joy.
God wants us to bask in deep joy. Once we are in Heaven, we will exult in abundant joy. However, God would like us to abound in joy now. Jean-Pierre de Caussade advises us that we may be sanctified, drawn into more intimate communion with God, by embracing the duty of the present moment. When we welcome what the current moment offers us, we feel peace and joy, which we experience when we trust in God no matter what happens.
People ask why there is such suffering. Persons ask how there can be God when there is so much suffering.
If we trusted God, and opened our hearts to God in the present moment, our suffering would be transformed for us. If we show the humility God desires, God gives us grace.* If we recognize and embrace who we are, and who God is, we humble ourselves before God. When we acknowledge that we must have God's help, God gives us what we need to do His will. Then we are overflowing with joy.
Yet when we do not trust God, we deprive ourselves of joy. When we refuse to trust God, we separate ourselves from God.
God loves us, and thus will not force Himself upon us. God wishes that we will exercise our free will to trust in Him.
We are told by Saint Faustina of God's desire that we trust in Him. Earlier this week, I was reminded of this good counsel. A couple of nights ago, at the Catholic church where I usually go, I saw a multimedia performance in which Saint Faustina was depicted in the midst of her visions of Jesus. In the performance, Saint Faustina shared that God is most saddened when we decide not to trust in Him.
Of course God is sorrowful when we choose not to trust in Him. When we opt not to trust in God, we turn away from Him, and thus reject the joy He would pour into our hearts by virtue of our trusting in Him.
Sometimes it might seem that it is impossible to feel joy in this life. At times it may appear that we will never feel joy until we arrive in Heaven.
We need not wait until we get to Heaven to be enveloped in magnificent joy. Right now, in this life, we can be clothed in wonderful joy. If we turn to God now, and trust in God in this moment now, we can live a life of joy right now. Amen.
* 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6
We were discussing our faith. We shared with each other the challenges we face as we strive to love God and our neighbor.
We both spoke of people who are tremendously joyous. I mentioned that years ago I had read how a Jesuit priest had written that he had met a joyous man in Africa. The priest asked the young man why he felt such joy. The man replied that he deeply treasured his relationship with Jesus. This man utterly trusted Jesus. When we totally trust God, and have complete confidence in Him, we empty ourselves of our delusions about our capabilities. Admitting that only God can deliver us, having emptied ourselves of our insistence on independence from God, God can fill our hearts with His joy.
God wants us to bask in deep joy. Once we are in Heaven, we will exult in abundant joy. However, God would like us to abound in joy now. Jean-Pierre de Caussade advises us that we may be sanctified, drawn into more intimate communion with God, by embracing the duty of the present moment. When we welcome what the current moment offers us, we feel peace and joy, which we experience when we trust in God no matter what happens.
People ask why there is such suffering. Persons ask how there can be God when there is so much suffering.
If we trusted God, and opened our hearts to God in the present moment, our suffering would be transformed for us. If we show the humility God desires, God gives us grace.* If we recognize and embrace who we are, and who God is, we humble ourselves before God. When we acknowledge that we must have God's help, God gives us what we need to do His will. Then we are overflowing with joy.
Yet when we do not trust God, we deprive ourselves of joy. When we refuse to trust God, we separate ourselves from God.
God loves us, and thus will not force Himself upon us. God wishes that we will exercise our free will to trust in Him.
We are told by Saint Faustina of God's desire that we trust in Him. Earlier this week, I was reminded of this good counsel. A couple of nights ago, at the Catholic church where I usually go, I saw a multimedia performance in which Saint Faustina was depicted in the midst of her visions of Jesus. In the performance, Saint Faustina shared that God is most saddened when we decide not to trust in Him.
Of course God is sorrowful when we choose not to trust in Him. When we opt not to trust in God, we turn away from Him, and thus reject the joy He would pour into our hearts by virtue of our trusting in Him.
Sometimes it might seem that it is impossible to feel joy in this life. At times it may appear that we will never feel joy until we arrive in Heaven.
We need not wait until we get to Heaven to be enveloped in magnificent joy. Right now, in this life, we can be clothed in wonderful joy. If we turn to God now, and trust in God in this moment now, we can live a life of joy right now. Amen.
* 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6
No comments:
Post a Comment