Messenger of Joy

Man’s greatest happiness is to be glad and do well … And when we eat and drink and find satisfaction in all our labors, this is a gift of God.  – Eccl 3:12-13

Reflection.  The key to enjoying life is to enjoy it not as an end in itself, but as a prelude to eternal happiness.  Eternal joy begins now.

Prayer.  Holy Spirit, teach me how to be spiritually and emotionally happy.

How great and wonderful are Your works, Lord, God Almighty!  Just and true are Your ways. – Rev 15:3

Reflection.  The Angels bow before the Lord, and the Saints praise His Holy Name.  All creation manifests His wondrous deeds.  Be happy in His presence.

Prayer.  Lord, grant me the grace to worship You in spirit and truth by living joyfully. 

Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking up into the sky?  – Acts 1:11

Reflection.  Give God His due.  Do not merely meditate on His words.  Perform good deeds to give God praise and glory.  In that way, you will produce an abundance of good fruit.

Prayer.  Give me the grace, Lord, not only to hear Your Word but also to act on it.

Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. – Mt 18:3

Reflection.  Sacred Scripture shows us the standard of good and evil.  We learn from experience that the values of this world are very different from God’s standards.

Prayer.  Heavenly Father, deliver me from evil; help me to do Your Will in all circumstances. 

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.  – Jn 20:29

Reflection.  Nothing is more disappointing to the Lord than to see some people demanding visible signs in order for them to believe in the Gospel.  “Whoever believes has everlasting life” (Jn 6:47).

Prayer.  Lord, I believe.  Let me walk by faith in spite of my tendency to be doubtful at times. 

The tax collector … would not even raise his eyes to heaven.  Rather, he kept beating his breast as he said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”  – Lk 18:13

Reflection.  The Pharisees were proud and haughty.  Jesus was angry with them.  He ridiculed them repeatedly.  When the lowly tax collector thought himself to be unworthy, he stood afar off, beating his breast and saying, “Be merciful to me a sinner.”  Jesus rewarded him for his humility.

Prayer.  Lord Jesus, help me to imitate the humility of the tax collector. 

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  – Jn 1:14

Reflection.  From the beginning, Christians called Mary “the Mother of God.”  For Jesus was not merely the Son of Mary; He was God Incarnate, the Savior of mankind.

Prayer.  Father, You made Mary the Mother of our Divine Savior.  Help me to cooperate with Your grace and be saved. 

Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.  – Mt 4:19

Reflection.  Since we are all called to be Saints, it follows that you will also be called upon to suffer from time to time.  Love leads to service, and service leads to the cross.  Try not to run away from the cross.  It is not a form of punishment; it is often a badge of honor.

Prayer.  Lord Jesus, help me to carry my cross with courage. 

Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly present.  – Gal 3:1

Reflection.  We do not need a physical miracle to convince us of the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist.  God gives us the faith and love to discern this wonderful truth.  Do not be unbelieving, but believe.

Prayer.  Holy Lord, may I always rejoice in the gift of Your presence in the Eucharist.

When Jesus saw with what great understanding he had spoken, He said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”  – Mk 12:34

Reflection.  Christian faith and obedience lead us to the fullness of life in the Kingdom.  St. Catherine of Siena understood this when she said, “All the way to heaven is heaven.”

Prayer.  Lord, make me worthy of the joys of heaven, and let them begin here and now.