An Advent Journey with Pope Francis and Evangelii Gaudium, Part 1
There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. (Evangelii Gaudium, 6.)
Pope Francis has a gift for analogies, bringing clarity to his message with simple imagery. Of course, the fullness of Lent is lived as a preparation for the Easter mysteries. We cannot enter fully into the Paschal mysteries without first journeying through the solemn process of Lenten disciplines. But, none of us wants to hang around too long with someone who gets stuck in a Lenten mode!
We all experience moments when the sorrows of life bury all hope for joy, and Francis acknowledges this, “I understand the grief of people who have to endure great suffering.” And yet, he maintains that “slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress.”
A quiet yet firm trust. Perhaps this is the key. True joy goes beyond a raucous, back-slapping joviality. People who radiate this kind of joy are true energy givers. No, their lives are no easier than ours. Sometimes they are harder. But, these good souls seem to have inner resources that help them to raise a half empty glass in a heartfelt toast of thanksgiving for the goodness it does hold. We want to be around these folks, for their optimism and peaceful contentment is balm for the soul amid our worries and anxieties.
catholic dialogue 
Right on, Isabella! I think it was Teilhard de Chardin who once said/wrote: “Joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence”. Keep the blogs coming…
Joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence….wonderful! Thanks! 🙂
There is nothing quite so paradoxical as a joyless Christian. I suppose this can happen when Christianity is nothing more than a weekly trip to the church on Sunday for a person. When the Gospels are actually lived life is infused with intense joy. Life is not easy at times for all of us. However, when the struggles strike we can find hope in God’s Word, and that opens the door to joy. By counting our blessings, even in the midst of trials, we exercise our gratitude muscles; and, hidden within gratitude we also find joy. Sometimes we need to let go of “adult anxieties” and rediscover our child like faith and the peace of mind and joy that comes with such faith.
I really like your connection between gratitude and joy, Dan…the embracing of the many simple gifts in life. Well said, my friend – as always!