杏MAP导航 Francis: 'Joy is the air Christians breathe'
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp
Referring to the rich young man who sadly walks away from Jesus because he cannot renounce his possessions, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that Christians cannot be like that.
Joy is the Christians鈥� breath
It is 鈥渏oy that Christians breath鈥�, he said. Christians express themselves joyfully. Joy cannot be purchased or forced. 鈥淣o鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渋t is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The one who puts joy in our hearts is the Holy Spirit鈥�.
Joy, fed by memory, generates hope and peace
Memory is the solid rock on which the Christian finds joy. Remembering 鈥渨hat the Lord has done for us鈥egenerates us鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 continued. That memory generates hope for what is to come in the future when we will meet the Son of God. Memory and hope allow Christians to live joyfully, and peace is joy lived to its perfection:
Joy does not mean living from laugh to laugh. No, it鈥檚 not that. Joy is not entertainment. No, it鈥檚 not that. It is something else. Christian joy is peace, peace that is deeply rooted, peace in the heart, the peace that only God can give. This is Christian joy. It is not easy to foster this joy.
Joy endures
杏MAP导航 Francis lamented the fact that today鈥檚 culture contents itself with fragments of pleasure that never satisfy completely. Since joy it is a gift of the Spirit, it vibrates even 鈥渋n turbulent moments and in the moment of trial鈥�.
There is a healthy restlessness, and there is another which is not healthy 鈥� that which seeks security above all, which seeks pleasure above all. The young man in the Gospel was afraid that if he gave up his wealth he would not be happy. Joy, consolation: this is our breath as Christians.
Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here
