“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” – Jesus (John 15:11)
As I read this passage I have to wonder, what is joy? In my own mind I often illustrate it this way. Finding out that I won $1 Billion dollars in lottery will make me happy. Witnessing the birth of a child or welcoming a new grandchild; that brings me joy. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit that doesn’t come from things but from love.
Yet, even the great joy I experience at births, weddings, and family gatherings is fleeting. It is not complete or lasting.
The joy Jesus speaks of is different. It is all encompassing, lacking nothing, not fading or diminishing. It is complete.
In my 53 years on this earth I can think of only two times where I encountered this joy in the flesh in another person. The first time was when I met my wife’s grandfather. The man literally emanated joy. He glowed. The moment I saw it I said to myself, “I want that!” Yet, he was just like you and me. A spouse, father, grandfather, brother, employee, and friend. He was a man who had survived the Great Depression, WWII (he enlisted at 17 and his ship was attacked by kamikaze), and the countless other trials of daily life on this earth. Still, joy followed and flowed through this man touching all who were near.
The other time I found this joy in another person was when I met Fr. Adriano Cadei. I met him at the Franciscan University of Steubenville at a conference. He was the type of man that you meet once and instantly become life-long friends regardless of time and distance. He was a missionary for P.I.M.E and served in Myanmar, Papa New Guinea, and the Philippines.
He was a Spiritual Director at the Saints Peter and Paul Seminary in Ohio for a time and spent a large amount of time promoting missionary work wherever he was. He too had seen many hardships in this life through his mission work: poverty, disease, war, and oppression. He too glowed with joy, always.
The joy Jesus speaks about in today’s Gospel is different than our earthly, fleeting, and sometimes hard to find joy. In the biblical context, joy is a deep-seated, abiding sense of happiness and contentment rooted in spiritual realities rather than temporal circumstances.
That is the key to joy. True joy, the joy that Jesus offers, is found in “spiritual realities” rather than our temporal circumstances. His joy is eternal. Earthly joy is temporary. Those like Grandpa Vin and Fr. Cadei and others saw this reality and were able to tap into it. They were/are so connected to Christ that His joy flowed from Heaven, into them, and out into the world. I want that. Don’t you?
So, how does one go about getting that joy? We cannot earn it. It’s a free gift. We cannot achieve it. We have to accept it and allow it to work through us.
Jesus tells us how, quite simply, in the verses previous to the one quoted above:
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. – John 15:9-10
Keep His commandments? That’s it? I feel like Naaman being told to wash 7 times in the Jordan River to cure Leprosy. That can’t be the answer, it’s too easy. But is it?
Keeping the commandments isn’t easy. At least keeping them out of love for God isn’t easy. It’s easy to work on the check list of do’s and don’ts; checking them off as we go along. However, keeping them out of a deep love for God is difficult – but possible. It’s difficult because life happens. Betrayal happens. Sickness happens. Financial trouble happens. So how do we keep those commandments out of love for God in the face of so many trials? How do we love God and others for His sake alone? I believe St. Paul gives us the answer. He tells us that no matter what happens in this life, to have complete joy we must..
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice, pray, and give thanks always and in all circumstances. Period. No exceptions and no excuses. This is the way to true, complete, lasting joy. Betrayed? Rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Lost your job? Rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Sick? Rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Won the lottery? Rejoice, pray, and give thanks.
By doing this we reset our paradigm and recognize that joy, true joy, is rooted in Christ and not this world. Easy? No, but with Christ ALL things are possible and this is what He wants for us. Will you accept it?
James M. Hahn, Author 