Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Today, we begin the sixth week of Easter. Our Scripture readings of the past four weeks gave us inspiring and challenging thoughts, calling us to be Easter people. Easter people are called to go on into the uncertain future trusting that he risen Lord will meet them on their journey, to trust in the mercy  of God and to be merciful just as our heavenly father is merciful, to be filled with God’s peace and be channels of his peace for the world, to be vigilant and watchful just as the Lord is as our good shepherd and to be fruitful as disciples of Jesus which depends on our connection with Jesus our master.

 

On this Sixth Sunday of Easter, our Scripture readings call us to be joyful. Jesus tells us, "All these things I have spoken to you, that my joy maybe in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15: 11, today’s Gospel). In the past few Sundays, we heard Jesus offering us “peace” as his farewell gift, “fulness of life” as the purpose of his coming and now “fulness of joy” as the reason for saying all that he said about his relationship with the father and all who follow him. In John chapter 17, we will hear him pray for complete union with the Father.   Fulness of peace, Fulness of life, fulness of joy and complete union with the Father are what Jesus offer.

 

Today’s Gospel focuses on fulness of Joy. Joy is God’s gift to us. God has not abandoned us, His people. He has not given up on us. And that gives us reason to be joy-filled and joyful. This Joy empowers us to go on in hope, even when storms of life disrupt relationships, incredible tragedies such as war, violence and many such slings and arrows come straight at us. The joy that God gives us lives within and remains an ever-renewable wellspring of courage and peace because that joy is of God and that Joy is God himself. This is what Easter offers us.

 

Fulness of joy is not something that happens because we have become wealthy or acquired knowledge or skill or assumed important positions in society or became a Catholic and received all the sacraments.  It is our lifestyle, the way we live, think and act. It is the way we approach the world. It is the way we find our life in Christ and live our life in Christ - abiding in His love.

Jesus, himself lived a very joyful life, lived in perfect communion with His Heavenly Father, in absolute obedience to the Will of His Father, and accepting pain and suffering, even death on the cross in doing the will of his father.

 

To read more of this Sunday’s reflection, please click on the link below…