You Are Made For Joy

We are made to be filled with joy because Jesus has called us to be His own. Being loved is what we were made for. The love of Jesus fills us with joy!

In this sermon Deacon Michael talks about the translation of the word, "capture" from one of readings for this day which has the following words:

"Simon has told us how God showed his love for [cared for; intervened with; visited] the Gentiles. For the first time he is accepting [taking; selecting] from among them a people to be his own [for his name]" (Deacon Michael had many books with parallel translations of the Bible.)

In this quote, you might say, "to capture from among them a people to be His own." We don’t have to wonder why were exist, now we know. We know that we exist to be filled with joy, the joy of our salvation!

Not only is joy a fruit of the Holy Spirit, but is a constant theme throughout Scripture. Claim it!

by Laura Weston, widow of Deacon Michael

IF YOU LIKE, READ ALONG AS YOU LISTEN:

I was recently listening to something on the radio. They were talking about the oldest known word. It goes back 8000 years. And what it is, is an Indo-European word that in every language, now that it is Indo-European, and going back to a single word that is exactly, has the exact same meaning, and it is pronounced the exact same way in every language.

The word is lox, like in lox and bagels. That's the word, lox.

Now, that also indicates something that is very important. That is, every other word has to be translated from one language to another.

You walk into France, or wherever, and you say "lox" and they say, "Oh yes! Lox!" After that, what do you say? You have to be translated.

One of the things that I find fascinating is, in the Western world, the English world specifically, the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Ah, what a great work! "A jug of wine, a loaf of bread, and thou." Paradise now, just a wonderful thing.

You go into the Arab world, which just really loves poetry, they go, "Who's Omar Khayyam?" He’s just nothing.

Translation is extremely important. We see this in the Bible. There are so many versions of the Bible.

But today we have something in the Bible and... the translation of "capture." What must have been there.

And we start with the Responsoral Psalm that John just read. “Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord all you lands. Sing to the Lord, bless His name."

There is, in those words alone, an element of excitement. Those are not passive words. You can imagine 2000 years ago, 3000 years ago, those words engendering a sense of excitement.

You image, this is the first council at Jerusalem. They have made a profound change that is a very important change that Peter is talking about. Talking about the fulfillment of God's will.

"For Moses, for generations now, had those who proclaim him in every town as he had..." oops that's the wrong one. It doesn't matter.
They're saying now, "Okay everybody, it's over. The Church is here. Bob, there's no need for circumcision. You don't have to worry about it."

So you can imagine at that council, there were a bunch of people. Paul and Barnabas, they were arguing back and forth. There were also probably a bunch of Gentiles.

So they come out and they proclaim what we have decided. And I am a Gentile who wants to be a follower of Christ. And they come out, and they announce what they're doing.

All of a sudden, I am able to get baptized and enter the Church. Fr. Franck comes up and says, "All of those things that you thought were keeping you away from God, they're not keeping you away from God."

I go, "Hmm. That's interesting. I'll have to write that down in a book so I'll remember it."

Or... "Yay!!!!"

I'm filled with joy. You know that's what occurred. When they went out into the world and said, "You can be a follower of Christ!" it was not a passive thing! It was a joy.

And in the gospel reading we have the same thing. "I have told you this so that My joy might be in you, and your joy might be complete."
That is an element of being Christian. That is an element of being Catholic. It is, I've talked about this before, we northern Europeans don't go around expressing joy. But it is something that we're called to be.

"What are you?" "Well... I'm a Roman Catholic..." (speaking with bored shame.)

Or: "I'm Catholic. It defines my very existence. I wouldn't be what I am if I weren't Catholic! It is the most wonderful thing!"

We are called to live a life of joy in Christ. That's what it says! "Your joy might be complete."

And these reading today, the Responsorial especially, it can just can fill you with joy.

I'm not saying just go out into the world and just show your joy, but allow, when the mood is there and the circumstances are there, and the translation is right and everything is there, allow yourself to be filled with joy.

Those of you who go to Sunday Masses, every once in a while the Recessional song, and a whole lot of times on other songs, where I have to stand there and not do it (that is, join in the singing), it just fills me up!

You've seen me. I go back into the front of the church. I'm waving my hands. You notice I'm moving my lips. You never hear me, but that's another issue. (Michael really could not carry a tune at all.)

Because I'm so filled with the joy of being a follower of Christ, and so filled with the love, of all of you, of everybody in the church.

Allow that joy to grab you. And, I hate to say it this way, but enjoy it! It's a wonderful feeling.

Because Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the reason to fill our lives with joy. He came to earth and died for us so we can have eternal life!

May 23, 2019 2