Thought for the Day – 14 August – Christian Joy

Thought for the Day – 14 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Christian Joy

“In his letters, St Paul frequently exhorts the early Christians to be joyful.
“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice” (Phil 4:4).
“The fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindliness” (Cf Gal 5:22).
But we are to remember that “The Kingdom of God does not consist in food and drink but, in justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).

St Paul emphasises that this joy need not be lost in times of tribulation.
“I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our troubles” (2 Cor 7:4).
In the life of a Christian, joy and sorrow are not mutually exclusive but, complement and perfect one another.

This does not mean that Christianity essentially transforms human nature and banishes the pangs of suffering.
It means simply that everything in human nature, is purified and elevated, so that, it may be deserving of Heaven, where true and lasting happiness is to be found.
“Be fervent in spirit,” says St Paul, “serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope,” (Rom 12:12)“and as sorrowful, always rejoicing” (2 Cor 6:10.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/24/thought-for-the-day-24-august-christian-joy/