Monday in the Octave of Easter
“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
MONDAY, April 18th Mt. 28:8-15 “Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’”
True Joy is found in Christ alone!
REJOICE IN THE LORD: I SAY IT AGAIN: REJOICE… by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
In the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians, the Apostle to the Gentiles fervently exhorts us and the whole of created humanity to rejoice, but with the qualifier—“Rejoice in the Lord!” (Philippians 4:4)
True, authentic, unveneered and unadulterated joy can only be discovered in getting to know, love, follow and imitate Jesus, the source of all joy. Any other attempt to attain joy unrelated to Jesus, the ultimate source of joy, will be an exercise in futility and will terminate in collapse and disaster.
All too many confuse these two separate realities: that of pleasure with that of joy. It is true that pleasure can be acquired and purchased with money. But even the Beatles used to sing: “Money can’t buy me love.” Pleasure depends on external stimuli—a good drink and a succulent steak satisfies the palate and the belly, but does not satisfy the deepest yearnings of the heart. Interesting to note: the more one pursues pleasure as an end in itself, the less one experiences true and authentic joy.
Joy is one of the many fruits of the Holy Spirit. Once we open our hearts to the workings of grace and collaborate with the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, then the fruits of the Holy Spirit blossom within our souls and become manifest in our exterior actions. Jesus expressed it clearly: “You can know the tree by its fruits.” (Mt 7:16)
One of the principal reasons why joy should be our constant friend and companion is the reality of the meaning of the Paschal Mystery. By this term Paschal Mystery is meant that Jesus truly died, was buried, but on the third day He rose from the dead. After the Consecration in the Mass we acclaim: “Christ has died; Christ has risen; Christ will come again.”
What then are some of the primary reasons for rejoicing with the reality of the Risen Lord Jesus? The following reasons can fill us with overflowing joy.
1. SAINT IGNATIUS AND THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES.
In the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola when we arrive at the Contemplation of the Risen Lord Jesus, the saint insists that we should beg for a special grace. The grace? The most intense joy because Jesus truly rose from the dead! It is not just a drop of joy, but rather an ocean of joy. Often we receive little from the Lord because we ask for or expect the minimum. Why not beg with the arrival of the Easter Season that we be inundated by a deluge of grace, a deluge of overflowing joy that will flood the lives of others?
2. JESUS IS TRULY RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
The fact that Jesus died on the cross, but on the third day He truly rose from the dead, never to experience death again, should most definitely flood us with a tidal wave of joy. Indeed, Jesus describes Himself in these three key words: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (Jn 14:6)
3. HIS LIFE MEANS OUR LIFE IN THE FULLNESS.
Jesus also said: “I have come that they may have life, and life in abundance.” (Jn 10:10) Indeed, the more that Jesus lives in us and we live in Jesus, the more we are truly alive in this life, as well as in the life to come. Sin can be compared to a dry, withered and dead branch. Life can be compared to the fresh blossoming of roses after the winter storms.
4. OUR DEATH IN THE LORD IS THE GATEWAY TO ETERNAL LIFE.
Life on earth is ephemeral, transitory, precarious and temporal. However, if we have lived in union with Jesus in this short earthly pilgrimage, in this valley of tears, then our death is not really death at all but the gateway to eternal life. For that reason the Church teaches that the death of a saint is their birthday into eternal life.
5. THE RISEN JESUS AND HEAVEN.
Saint Teresa of Avila and many of the saints insist on meditating and contemplating the reality of Heaven. This Carmelite Doctor of the Church compares our life on earth to spending a night in a lousy Inn or Hotel! With the accomplishment of the Paschal Mystery—the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus, the gates of Heaven were opened in full splendor and glory. Indeed, if we truly meditate often upon the reality of Heaven that awaits us as a result of Jesus’ Resurrection, the sufferings, setbacks, contradictions, and crosses of life become not only bearable but can be accepted with joy and great hope.
6. WHAT THEN IS HEAVEN LIKE?
Saint Paul does his best in trying to explain what we will experience in these poignant words: “Eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, nor has it entered the mind of man what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1Cor 2:9) Attempt this exercise of imagination (contemplation). Call to mind the happiest day, the happiest hour, the happiest, most joyful moment of your life! Now, multiply that joy a thousand times; then add to it eternity. That is to say, the happiness and inexpressible joy of that moment will never end, but will last forever and ever and ever!!!!
7. SUFFERING HAS TRUE MEANING AND VALUE IF INSERTED AND UNITED WITH THE PASCHAL MYSTERY.
Then, of paramount importance, all of our sufferings be they physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, cultural, familial, when united to the Passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus have infinite value. Venerable Fulton Sheen quips, “If there is no Good Friday, then there is no Easter Sunday.” In the light of our own future Resurrection, let us strive to never waste our sufferings but unite them to the sufferings of Jesus which culminate in His Resurrection from the dead, and one day our own Resurrection!
8. HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS AND THE RISEN LORD JESUS.
As difficult as this might be for our intellect darkened as a result of Original Sin, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the bridge between Heaven and earth. It is God’s OPUS DEI—GOD’S GREAT WORK! In every Mass celebrated by an ordained Catholic priest really and truly the Paschal Mystery becomes a reality. Once the bread and wine are consecrated they are truly transformed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the Lord Jesus. In the Consecrated Host is present the fullness of the Paschal Mystery. In the Consecrated Host the Crucified Lord Jesus is truly present as He hangs on the cross, at the same time, the Risen Lord Jesus is truly Present. This Mystery indeed transcends our limited human intellect. Let us bow humbly before the sublime and august Majesty of our Triune God!
9. HOLINESS, HAPPINESS, HOPEFULNESS, HEAVEN…
These four words that all start with “H” characterize the abundant fruits of Easter in the Risen Lord Jesus. Jesus is the Holy One sent from God to free us from the sadness of sin. Happiness is related to the virtue of Hope in which we patiently await our future reward. That reward? Heaven our true, permanent and eternal abode.
10. OUR LADY AND THE JOY OF THE RESURRECTION.
After Jesus there was nobody that suffered more intense pains then His Mother, known as Our Lady of Sorrows. She is often depicted with seven swords piercing her Heart. At the same time, never did any person, with the exception of Jesus Himself, ever experience such abounding and overflowing joy as did Mary. Such is the case, that the Church traditionally believes that the first Appearance of Jesus in His Resurrection was to His own Mother. She who shared intimately in His most intense sorrows would also share in His immense and overflowing joy.
IN CONCLUSION, we are all called to live out our lives in joy, overflowing joy, a most intense joy, a joy that must be shared abundantly with the many who live in sadness and the shadows of death. Such true, authentic joy can only be experienced in union with Jesus. Once we have firmly determined to establish our life’s goal and purpose in getting to know Jesus, love Jesus, follow Jesus, imitate Jesus, and die with Jesus so as to rise with Him, then the fruit of joy will be in the depths of our hearts, minds and souls. Finally, the mature fruit of joy will blossom fully and completely upon our arrival in Heaven!
