John 15:9 - 17
Are you a joyful person? Jesus makes that statement today that always bothers me a little because I’m not sure my joy is complete. The older I get, though, the more I see a relationship between joy and holiness. Nine months after I became a deacon I was about to serve in that role on Holy Saturday, which as you know is a complicated liturgy. I told Monsignor Devine that I was afraid I’d make a fool of myself by forgetting something important and he told me what I’ve told many altar servers since then. If you don’t know what to do, move slowly and look holy. There are probably several kinds of joy. Jesus refers to his joy. In the Gospel of John I think it’s clear that Jesus finds his joy in being perfectly aligned with God’s will, and apparently expects that to be the case for us as well. As Saint Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O Lord.”
This is the month of Mary. Some of you may have heard of the Franciscan Crown Rosary. It’s like a regular rosary but has seven decades with two extra Hail Mary’s, making 72. It was believed that Mary lived seventy two years before her earthly life ended. With each decade you meditate on one of the seven joys of Mary. These are the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Birth of Our Lord, the visit from the Magi, the Finding of Our Lord in the temple, the Resurrection and the Assumption of Mary into heaven, body and soul.
Now I am not going to say the Crown Rosary right now. But I think we can meditate on these joys of Mary and see parallels in our own lives, because after all who doesn't want to be assumed into heaven some day?
Saint Bernard envisioned all of heaven holding its breath while waiting for Mary’s answer to the question the Angel asked. But the angel Gabriel never asked a question. He simply said “Hello, you lucky girl! You are going to be the mother of the Savior!” Mary knew enough biology to question just how that would happen, and when the angel elaborated, Mary responded “Do it to me like you said.” I’m giving you a different translation of the Greek words. So we recognize that joy exists in accepting God’s will for us, even when it doesn’t fit our plans.
In the Visitation, Luke tells us that Mary heard that Elizabeth was with child, and immediately traveled to help her out. It was when she met Elizabeth that she knew the Angel’s promise had been fulfilled -- Elizabeth said, “How is it that the mother of my Lord has come to me?” We all find joy when something confirms that we are on the right path. That’s how you know your charism -- your gift from the Holy Spirit meant to build up the Church. You feel a certain satisfaction when you are using it.
In the Birth of Our Lord, Luke tells us that the shepherds came to worship her child, and were then joined by angels. There is a great joy in the assurance of others that you are doing what God desires of you. We are social animals of course, and the path of life we walk is easier when we feel the support of others.
In the Adoration by the Magi, was Mary joyful because she realized that her son would be offering salvation to the whole world, not just the Jews? We get a little taste of this, I think when we read about good things happening because of the actions of fellow members of our Church, even when we have nothing to do with it. That recent movie, Cabrini, meant more to us practicing Catholics than to other people.
After Jesus is found in the temple, Mary must have felt joy to have her twelve year old boy back, even as she scolds him a little. But I think the real joy is in the sentence, he returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them, and grew in wisdom and grace and favor” Most of us who have children have experienced the satisfaction of the family being together. IT’s a common enough joy, but a joy nevertheless.
And of course the sixth joy, the Resurrection of Jesus, was proof that death has been conquered. As an aside, scripture is silent on whether or not Jesus appeared to Mary after his resurrection. I sometimes wonder if this was because Mary was the only human being who didn’t need that to happen to believe it. After all he had predicted it, and that might have been enough for her, if not for the apostles.
And the seventh joy, of course, was Mary’s assumption into heaven. That moment of course will be the greatest joy for you and I as well.
So think about the joys of Mary this month. Measure your own joy against hers and learn from her how to find Christ’s joy in you and have it become complete.
