Joy is an abiding sense of well-being that suffuses a person who truly loves. Joy is not about carousing or wild revelry; although it could be that sometimes. Joy is more a like a smile even when things are rough and not going right. Or, a touch from a loved one when one is feeling low and lonely. There can be joy in tears just as it is there when there is laughter. There can be joy in pain as exquisite as the joy one experiences in pleasures.
Christ said to abide in His love so that our joy may be complete. I took St. Paul’s description of love in his letter to the Corinthians and substituted ‘joy’ wherever ‘love’ appeared. The result is inspiring and truly enlightening.
Joy is patient, joy is kind and is not jealous; joy does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Joy never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
~ Psalm 96
Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
“I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete.”
John 15:9-11