October 22, 2015 - Thursday

Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
nor sit in company with scoffers.
Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy;
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted near streams of water,
that yields its fruit in season;
Its leaves never wither;
whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3 NABRE)

Where do we find our joy? I'm not talking about short-lived pleasure that accompanies amusement. I am referring to joy that transcends all of life and which is rooted in hope.

The Psalmist reminds us that joy comes from meditating on God's Word day and night. (I know, not exactly a party, but hang in there with this.)

He emphasizes the importance of meditating constantly on God's Word by explaining how to clear our calendars in order to have the time for God: We should stop taking advice from others who would do us harm, we should stop imitating others who primarily show us how to act wrongly, and we should stop seeking encouragement from those who do not respect our faith in the Lord.

And once we clear our schedules, we are able to invite God into each little moment of the day. We are able to share with him our triumphs and our failures right when they happen! In our confident and constant hope made possible by Jesus, we begin to grow in a relationship with God which inevitably turns us back toward others. And it is in this process of having our new hearts placed back with others that we begin to live as joyful people.

And so, we have access to joy even in discomfort and a fruitful life even in suffering!

We pray for the conversion of those who would do us harm, who embrace bad behavior, and who resist faith in God. We pray that the Lord will bless them as he did Saint Paul, showing them there is no sin bigger than God's mercy. May the Lord show them their own path to his peace and joy.


Today, I will speak with joy to all those who cross my path.


Saint John Paul II, who urged us to “Open wide the doors to Christ,” pray for us.