“Rising above our concerns, to find the Treasure of True Joy and the Wealth of Genuine happiness in God!”

(Based on Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 and Lk 10:1-12 – Thursday of the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

A theology professor was once asked in a class, “Father, do you think that Jesus ever laughed?”

The professor was amused at the question:
“Of course, I don’t think that the Gospel directly gives us an instance which mentions that Jesus laughed.

There are surely, many moments of joy which Jesus engaged in
There are also so many precious words that our Lord uttered which exudes joy – especially the Beatitudes”!

And then, with a sense of deep devotion, the professor continued: “And finally, I do want to say…
… More than being concerned if Jesus ever laughed in life

I am proud to say, that my Lord has blessed me with so much of love and care…
… that I can laugh!”

Each one of us are invited to reflect on the many wonders that our Blessed Lord has done in our life – wonders that make us laugh and feel happy…
… and thus radiate joy and peace by our lives!

The Gospel of the Day is the incident of Jesus sending His Disciples on a mission journey…
… with an expectation that they “be messengers of peace”

“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house’” (Lk 10:5)

Being a ‘messenger of peace’ required that the disciples be joyful and cheerful people…

They were to preach the Good News primarily by their life…
… And this life ought to have been a reflection of joy and peace!

The Lord also warns that there could be a possibility of being rejected (Cf. Lk 10:10)

However, the disciples were not to get discouraged or be bogged down by those experiences

We too are invited to be “messengers of peace”

And preach the Good News primarily by our life…
… making our life a reflection of joy and peace!

However, very often, we lose our sense of joy and plunge into disturbances, when encountered by the troubles of life.

Queries on why there is no joy or happiness may perhaps evoke some of the following replies:

“You don’t know the struggles what I’m going through.”
“How can you expect me to be cheerful when my marriage and family is falling apart?”
“God seems miles away from me, and you want me to cheer up?”
“My kids drive me nuts.”
“I’ve got cancer. How can I rejoice?”
“People have mistreated me and I’m not going to be happy until I get even.”
“If I had more money, I’d be happy.”
“The fears of the pandemic are still looming large. How do you still expect me to be hopeful?”

Do I identify myself with some of the above replies…..?

If yes, then we are challenged to rise above these our concerns…
… and to find the Treasure of True Joy
… and the Wealth of Genuine happiness in God!

The Lord has indeed blessed us with many moments of protection and encouragement

Let these wonders help us to radiate joy in our life
And to say with devotion and joy: “I am proud to say, that my Lord has blessed me with so much of love and care…
… that I can laugh!”

Today we seek the intercession of St Jerome
(St Jerome who was very well-versed in Scripture, is best known for his translation of the Bible into Latin – the translation that became known as the Vulgate – and his commentaries on the Scriptures.

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ” are the famous words of exhortation of St Jerome, the doctor of the Church)

May his words, “Good, better, best. Never let it rest.

‘Til your good is better and your better is best”
… be an inspiration for all of us

Today – September 30th – is also the Founder’s Day of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales (MSFS) – the death anniversary of the Venerable Servant of God, Fr Peter Marie Mermier (Sep 30, 1862)

We are invited to be inspired by the words of Ven. Fr Peter Marie Mermier

“The most virtuous (people) avoid sin and great faults…
… but they are careless in the practice of virtue.”

“It is not enough to avoid evil but it is necessary to do good
… The love of God is efficacious.
There is nothing as strong and as active as love. It is a devouring fire!”

And with respect to prayer…

“The ministry of a priest without prayer, is a barren ministry, without any effect, even harmful; it is a ministry of death!
… instead of enlightening, it blinds;
… instead of healing, it kills!
But the ministry of the one who prays, is a ministry of life!”

Happy Founder’s Day to all the FRANSALIANS – Missionaries of St Francis de Sales (MSFS)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS

On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ’s Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a Divine Person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance. On that day, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed.
Since that day, the Kingdom announced by Christ has been open to those who believe in him: in the humility of the flesh and in faith, they already share in the communion of the Holy Trinity.
By his coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to enter into the “last days,” the time of the Church, the Kingdom already inherited though not yet consummated.

“We have seen the true Light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith: we adore the indivisible Trinity, Who has saved us!” (Cf. CCC # 731-732)