Messenger of Joy

The Lord has . . . sent me to bring Good News to the lowly, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to proclaim freedom for the captives.
—Isa 61:1

Reflection. This is the quote Jesus used in the synagogue to explain His mission.

We are members of Christ’s Mystical Body, and so His mission is our mission too. Be glad, to spread His joy to others, to heal the sorrowful, and to liberate those caught up in the prison of self.

Prayer. O Lord, thank You for calling me to serve in the immense task of proclaiming the Good News of the Gospels.

The life that I live now in the flesh, I live in the faith of the Son of God. He loved me and gave Himself up for me.
—Gal 2:20

Reflection. The Eucharist is the privileged summit of the meeting of Christ’s love for us; a love that is made available for each of us, a love that is made to be sacrificial lamb and food for our hunger for life.

As the Apostle says, “He loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
—Pope Paul VI

Prayer. Dear Jesus, in Your love I find my strength and joy.

You shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with all your strength. —Deut 6:5

Reflection. It is possible to love God with your whole heart, mind, and soul, without forcing yourself to feel any emotion whatsoever. Simply will it. Will to love God, without making yourself feel anything.

The will has only one function, to say yes or no. If you want to love God, just say yes. Forget the feelings. The Lord is pleased with your holy desire, and He blesses you.

Prayer. Jesus, I will it. I will to love You. Help me to reach perfection one day, but for now, just be pleased that I give You myself as best I can.

Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of horns sing joyfully. —Ps 98:5-6

Reflection. As a manifestation of the human spirit, music performs a function that is noble, unique, and irreplaceable.

When music is truly beautiful and inspired, it speaks to us more than all the other acts of goodness, virtue, and peace.
—Pope John Paul II

Prayer. Dear Lord, thank You for my love of music. It rejoices my heart. I sing forever to Your glory.

The Lord will give you rest, and you shall be like a watered garden.
—Isa 58:11

Reflection. Genuine happiness in the home is based on love that gives itself and sacrifices itself, simply and perseveringly.

This love can be sustained only with the food of faith, and faith is a gift of God that is nourished in prayer and the Sacraments.
—Pope John Paul II

Prayer. Holy Spirit of Love and Joy, thank You for filling me with Your wonderful life. The gift of Your love makes me happy to be alive. Help me to share my joy with everyone.

Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven.
—Jn 20:22-23

Reflection. On the feast of St. Blase, we have our throats blessed. The Holy Spirit cleanses us of every evil, in particular from diseases of the throat.

In this purgation we offer all our sins that they may be washed away forever.

Prayer. Lord Jesus, I bow before You in a spirit of thanksgiving. I have been made clean so many times in my life. Because of You I can now hold my head up high.

When the days for their purification were completed according to the Law of Moses, they brought the Child up to Jerusalem to pre-sent Him to the Lord.
—Lk 2:22

Reflection. Mary lifted up the Child Jesus when she presented Him at the Temple.

On this feast of the Presentation we offer ourselves along with Him to the glory of the Father.

Prayer. O Lord, help me to always remember that my faith is not simply a set of agreed upon beliefs. It is a truth that cuts to the marrow of my bones, a truth that must be lived every moment of my life. I offer myself to You body and soul.

I have come to understand that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is yet to come.
—Rom 8:18

Reflection. True love involves pain. In order to give birth, a mother has to suffer, but glory follows pain.

Death is not extinguishing the light, it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.
—Rabindranath Tagore

Prayer. Lord, when my time comes help me to accept it peacefully. Be my escort into heaven so that I will not be afraid.

Such is the complete reliance upon God that we have through Christ. Obviously, we are not competent of ourselves to take credit for anything as coming from us. Our competence comes from God. —2 Cor 3:4-5

Reflection. The gift of confidence is deeper in your soul than you may imagine.

The mere fact that you are reading these daily meditations means that you are finding your confidence in Jesus. To pray to Christ is both to love Him and to rely on Him.

Prayer. Dear Jesus, I am hopeful, I am grateful, and I am confident thanks to You.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter to be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth . . . [Who] dwells with you. —Jn 14:16-17

Reflection. The Indwelling Trinity is closer to you than your own heartbeat. His comfort is available at will. Let the Lord be your strength, and your joy.

Like water at the kitchen sink, you need only turn on the spigot to draw it out; so is the Holy Spirit waiting to be invited into your life.

Prayer. Almighty God, I open myself to You; comfort me so that I may comfort others.