Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 2 May 2024
Fifth Week of Easter – Thursday
Acts 15:7-21. John 15:9-11
My joy
Often, we equate Christianity and Christ with suffering, the cross, thorns, renunciation, fasting, self-denial, and self-gift. We are caught up in fear and guilt. But the gospel reading presents before us the other side of Christianity and Christ.
Jesus says to his disciples, “My joy might be in you, and your joy might be complete.” We can understand this statement as ‘I give you my in order to fill yours.’
Jesus, who gives us the peace that the world cannot give and who removes our anxieties and fears, fills us with his joy.
Joy has three dimensions: ‘pleasure,’ ‘partial joy,’ ‘full joy.’ Pleasure is bodily and temporary, and it emerges due to our resistance to God. Partial joy is that which we experience in our intellectual calibre and relational well-being. Full joy or bliss is possible in the presence of God.
Jesus himself shows the way to fullness of joy: “Keep my commandments and abide in my love.” Jesus has not given the new commandment yet. Here, ‘commandments’ could refer to ‘words.’ ‘Abiding’ means ‘to have our existence’.
Jesus’ words give hope to the disciples, make them realise that it is worth abiding in Jesus, and invite them to live out his teachings. A life filled with love and commitment is a life filled with joy.
In the first reading, we read how the disciples handled the problem that emerged on account of circumcision. James convokes the Council of Jerusalem to discuss the problem brought forward by Paul and Barnabas. The solution arrived in a synodal way and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They decide unanimously not to give trouble to the Gentiles. Their decision is not self-centred but other-centred. They think of the joy of the Gentiles.
This is the complete joy that Jesus promises. One who has this joy wants the same for others.
God wills that each of us be joyful. Let us not be guilty about being joyful or happy.
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“We are saved by our hope,” says Saint Augustine. (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 87)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
# Be M.er.cy.Fool
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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