Saturday, October 3, 2009
The Joyful Mysteries
Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29
Psalm 69:33-35, 36-37
Luke 10:17-24
“As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God, turn now ten times the more to seek him;
For he who has brought disaster upon you will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy.”
Baruch 4
The Lord listens to the poor.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
Psalm 69
Saturday’s readings bring great joy to the heart of anyone who loves to see good win out over evil, or who loves to see the end of an incredible story that's full of battles and intrigue and underhanded stuff - lots of good people and bad people - and in the end, the heroes triumph! We love stories like that because we live in a world that is so often filled with such battles. At times it seems like evil is winning out.
But remember—“gospel” means “Good News”! The Lord gives us the strength and the grace to do what needs to be done. He protects us and even gives us powers over the fallen angels. However He tells us that this is not to be the cause of our joy. Indeed, rejoicing in such things leads more to pride than to heaven.
Jesus tells us to rejoice because our names are written in heaven. We rejoice because we have come to know the Savior of the World and His name alone is enough to save us. But more, we rejoice because we are invited to become His friends, as close to Him as the apostles. The source of our joy is knowledge that we are the children of God.
So, even though we are given many talents, strengths, graces, and consolations, we should not rejoice in them, rather we should choose to rejoice in Him who gave them.
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