Taking steps to a joyful heart
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It is given freely to anyone who asks, but it needs to be developed through practice the same way a musically gifted person must practice with his or her instrument. To be joyful, you must will it every day.
Here are some thoughts I want to share with you.
• Jesus explained his mission in these words: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11).
• Jesus Christ first directs us to be loving and kind, knowing that joy always follows a loving heart.
• Pope John Paul II restated the same idea: “Christ came to bring joy; joy to children, joy to parents, joy to families and friends, joy to workers and scholars, joy to the sick and elderly, joy to all humanity.”
• We are all called to be messengers of joy. The supreme law enables us to do that: Love God with your whole heart, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. In other words, ask God to help you to be a good and decent person, and then learn to be your own best friend.
• Cling to God, think of others and don’t put yourself down. Those who lack the discipline necessary to reject needless fear will not be able to control their emotions. Choose joy over gloom.
• The thoughts you allow yourself to think will create the emotions you will have to live with day in and day out. Do not perpetuate your sadness.
• Joy is the byproduct of loving service. Be kind to yourself. Trust God and dismiss fear as a waste of time. When you practice the art of being your own best friend, you will no longer indulge the foolish habit of being your own worst enemy.
• Love leads to service, and service, in turn, leads to sacrifice. Sacrifice often leads to the cross. Love enables you to embrace the cross with courage because it will free you from self-absorption. Smile more and frown less. You can create a joyful heart, even in dark times, by simply choosing to be joyful.
• If you are truly wise, you will choose Jesus Christ as your guide to eternal joy. After that, choose mental health as an all-important goal.
• St. Thomas Aquinas is credited by St. Teresa of Avila of saying, “If you want to be a saint, will it.” He understood that the center of the personality is the will. The will has only one function: to say yes or no. Say no to thoughts that make you sad and fearful, and yes to thoughts that lift up your spirit.
• To choose joy is to cleanse your mind of needless fear. Refer to the Gospel, “Do not be afraid; just have faith” (Mk 5:36).
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Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It is given freely to anyone who asks, but it needs to be developed through practice the same way a musically gifted person must practice with his or her instrument. To be joyful, you must will it every day.
Here are some thoughts I want to share with you.
• Jesus explained his mission in these words: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11).
• Jesus Christ first directs us to be loving and kind, knowing that joy always follows a loving heart.
• Pope John Paul II restated the same idea: “Christ came to bring joy; joy to children, joy to parents, joy to families and friends, joy to workers and scholars, joy to the sick and elderly, joy to all humanity.”
• We are all called to be messengers of joy. The supreme law enables us to do that: Love God with your whole heart, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. In other words, ask God to help you to be a good and decent person, and then learn to be your own best friend.
• Cling to God, think of others and don’t put yourself down. Those who lack the discipline necessary to reject needless fear will not be able to control their emotions. Choose joy over gloom.
• The thoughts you allow yourself to think will create the emotions you will have to live with day in and day out. Do not perpetuate your sadness.
• Joy is the byproduct of loving service. Be kind to yourself. Trust God and dismiss fear as a waste of time. When you practice the art of being your own best friend, you will no longer indulge the foolish habit of being your own worst enemy.
• Love leads to service, and service, in turn, leads to sacrifice. Sacrifice often leads to the cross. Love enables you to embrace the cross with courage because it will free you from self-absorption. Smile more and frown less. You can create a joyful heart, even in dark times, by simply choosing to be joyful.
• If you are truly wise, you will choose Jesus Christ as your guide to eternal joy. After that, choose mental health as an all-important goal.
• St. Thomas Aquinas is credited by St. Teresa of Avila of saying, “If you want to be a saint, will it.” He understood that the center of the personality is the will. The will has only one function: to say yes or no. Say no to thoughts that make you sad and fearful, and yes to thoughts that lift up your spirit.
• To choose joy is to cleanse your mind of needless fear. Refer to the Gospel, “Do not be afraid; just have faith” (Mk 5:36).
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