True Joy

               This morning I saw true joy on the face of an acquaintance from my parish.  I first met this young man at a party in December for members of the Men’s Group at church along with their spouses or significant others.  He came alone, perhaps desiring to have the Christian companionship.  As I spoke with him, he seemed rather reticent and quiet.  We talked about faith, and I spoke of my vocation as a lay Dominican. He was seeking meaning and direction for his life. In the following weeks, I would see him occasionally around the parish.

               In mid-Winter, I saw him at the Dominican House of Studies.  He was attending a vocation event for men who are considering the priesthood.  I certainly gave him credit for seeking God’s will, but he looked out of place to me.  I was not surprised to see that he was not among the Dominican novice candidates for the coming year, but wondered about his journey.

               I had not seen him in the parish for months and just last week wondered what had happened to him.  The Washington DC area is so transient, many times young men and women are here for a year or three and then they disappear, some going back home and others onto another adventure. 

               I was sitting in the church parking lot this morning after mass, waiting for the torrential rain to end so I could exchange something with a friend.  I saw this young man greet another man outside the church with a hug and then he introduced a young women.  From a distance, I had to look twice to recognize him.  His smile made his face glow, his posture was straighter than I remembered and he had a confidence that was new to me.

               As the rain let up, I ran to the church and exchanged the item with my friend.  On the way out, the young woman was extending her left had to someone.  I didn’t want to interrupt, and just waved and was delighted to see true joy on his face.  My acquaintance is newly engaged.  He and his faithful Catholic fiancé had come to church to meet with the priest to begin preparation for marriage.

               It is my prayer that their preparation will not be for the day they exchange their vows, but for a lifetime relationship lived in communion with our Lord.  I had been married for more than a decade before I truly understood the peace and beauty of a sacramental marriage.  It is my hope that this man and woman have a sacrament marriage from the very beginning.

               It is how it is meant to be from Matthew 19:5, 'That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh'.  May today’s joy be present throughout their life time together!

Joyful Trust

          On this, last day of the papacy of Benedict XVI, I can’t but be filled with his words from yesterday’s general audience.  I have truly loved the messages that he has given in his audiences and have learned much.  One of my favorite books by our Holy Father comes from his audiences.  Holy Men and Women from the Middle Ages and Beyond is a compilation of audience from 2010 and 2011.  It is beautifully written with care and love for these men and women who loved God above all else.

          Yesterday, in just over 250 words, this beloved Pope offered a beautiful farewell.  He stated that he is “personally grateful for (the Lord’s) unfailing love and guidance in the eight years since I accepted his call to serve as the Successor of Peter.”  He referenced that “we have all been called to review our joyful trust in the Lord’s presence in our lives and in the life of the church”.  These words are very private and reveal the depth of his love for and reliance on Christ.

          He makes the point that he is not leaving us in that he will be joined with us in his prayers for the church and he humbly asks us to pray for him, the new Pope and the church.  Note that he doesn’t ask only for prayers for him, but his successor and the entire church.

          His retirement is the “fruit of a serene trust in God’s will and a deep love of Christ’s Church”.  He said so much said in so few words.  It was prayer that led him to make this difficult decision serenely.  How often is serenity part of our world today?

          Today, at 2pm local time, the time that the Chair of Peter will become empty, I will be joining colleagues in prayer and then in a champagne toast to our Pope emeritus.  I wouldn’t be surprised if I shed a tear or two.

          If I have learned one thing from the past two papacy’s it is that God, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance will give us just who we need to lead the church.  Joyful trust – that is what I have in our Lord and in the man who is the Successor of Peter.  Thank you Papa Ratzinger! 

A year of JOY

               On January 2^nd, a local Christian radio station asked listeners to select one word that would describe 2013.  Some of the choices included patience, endurance, and love.  All are good choices, but did not ring true for me.  Then I realized that as I was writing the majority of my Christmas cards, during the twelve days of Christmas, I found myself wishing my family and friends a JOYful New Year, rather than a Happy New Year.  So my choice for 2013 is JOY.

               That old Christian song, “You will know they are Christians by their love”, should be rewritten, “you will know they are Christians by their JOY”!  My goal this year is to find joy everyday in it activities, knowing that there will be struggles, challenges and even sadness.  Joy in work, joy in family life, joy in exercise (well maybe not), all grounded in my relationship with God. 

               My resolve was tested on the morning of January 3^rd.  The back of a religious pin that I was putting on scampered down the drain of my bathroom sink.  I slammed my finger in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.  Someone pull out right in front of me on the way to work and then proceeded to drive very slowly in front of me for most of my drive.  When I got to work, I realized that I had forgotten something that I needed. During each of these events, my temper was tested and each time I replied, “JOY”.   And I did have a joyful day!

               Today, I found joy in accomplishing a report for a client, in spending time reading and writing and in taking my teenage son to the local football field for him to practice kicking and punting.  Twice I almost caught the ball, having my hands on it, but not quiet able to hang on.  (I didn’t realize how hard it is to catch a football!)  If I hadn’t gone with him, I wouldn’t have spent more than an hour outside in the sunshine today.  (The high is 37 degrees, so it is cold, but with the right clothes and being active it was a delight!)

              A few days down and more than 350 to go. To keep the joyful theme, I plan to play a version of Joy to the World each morning and I prepare breakfast and pack lunches.  For the source of this JOY is because the Lord has come.

               And on this 10^th Day of Christmas, I wish you a 2013 filled with JOY!