Weekly Devotional

Joy

by Fr. Dmitri, New Zealand

Saturday 13 February 2010 (6 Mechir; 6 Amshier):
Marcella of Rome.

At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father,
and ye in me, and I in you.
(John 14:20)

CONSIDER THIS:

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. According
to your word. For my eyes have seen Your Salvation, which
You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring
revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
'Song of Simeon' (Luke 2:29-32)

I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful
to me according to Your word.
(Psa. 119:58)

Whoever lays his worries in all things before God,
lays a foundation for all his works.
(St. John Saba)

Do not allow any images to stand between your mind and God
while reciting the Jesus Prayer.
(St. Theophan)

The Holy Virgin, alone, was addressed as the one 'Full of Grace'
for she alone has obtained the grace that no one else, but her,
will ever possess. She was filled with the gifts of Grace.
(St. Ambrose of Milan)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken & contrite
heart - these O God you will not despise.
(Psa. 51:17)

For this is God, our God forever and ever He will be our guide
even to death.
(Psa. 48:14)

The angels serving: your Salvation tell each other, since the
word has taken a perishable body, how can we stand still?
(Originos the Scientist)

Innocence is a soul as pure as the day it was created and
always concerned for everyone.
(John Climacus)

REFLECTION:

Jesus Christ must live in us, and we must live only in Him. His
life must be our life, and our life must be a continuation and
expression of His life.

Lord Jesus, make us realize that You are living in us and we are
in You. Enable us to radiate You in our outward life by being
consciously united to You in our inner lives.
(John Eudes)

HOMILY:

JOY:

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (John 17:13)

A favourite idea of St.Paul: Gaudete in Domino Semper (Joy in the Lord always). Hence he was in such high spirits even in prison.

Joy is what we are all after (not pleasure as such). Because we are made by God for joy. Life ought to be a joyous thing, but there is no real joy to be got out of life apart from God. History and experience show it. Make happiness depend on created things, and they fail us.

There is only one human soul which possessed 'Perfect Joy': and that was Jesus Christ's. The love of God and God's creatures is the joy of Christ's humanity. Only by union with Christ can we get perfect joy.

Christ is the natural home of joy. Joylessness and harshness in religion are not from Christ.

But He was a Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief, but that soon turned in Joy when He overcame death by rising to Life on that Resurrection Morning.

Be ye Partakers of His Joy. To Thee be Glory and Praise, now and ever, unto Ages of Ages.

AMEN!

Today's Readings:

Morning: Psalm 119:57-58; Gospel: Matt. 5:25-37.
Liturgy: Rom. 12:1-21; James 1:1-12; Acts 21:27-39;
Psalm 5:1-2; Gospel Matt. 5:38-48.

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