JOY

I am currently reading an Ignatius Press book by Msgr. Murphy titled, "Christ Our Joy", in which the author outlines the theological vision of Pope Benedict as one of JOY.

So it was with eyebrows raised that I found these items from the blogosphere.

First, Deacon's Bench posted a clip of the final dance number from the Oscar-winning film, "Slumdog Millionaire", which is heady with joyful exuberance.

Then, my Catholic Culture e-letter informed me that Jeff Mirus is wondering if, as Catholics, we live our JOY often enough.

Finally, Broken Alabaster has this excellent post about living our our JOY, along with a winning quote from the Pope who specializes in the subject:

"Christian joy therefore arises from this certainty: God is near, he is with me, in joy and in pain, sickness and in health, as a friend and faithful husband. And this joy remains in essence, the same in suffering, and it remains not only on the surface but is in the depths of the person who relies on God and trusts in Him." (Gaudete Sunday, 2007)

What a beautiful man! Notice how he describes God as friend and faithful husband. Could any image inspire more reverent affection for our Lord? It's at once eucharistic, matrimonial, confessional, and so utterly, poignantly real.

God loves us this much.

I'm going to celebrate by taking my wife to see "Slumdog Millionaire" tonight. It won the Oscar, I've heard nothing but good things about it, and I want to do something joyful with my Beloved. Plus, it's Fat Tuesday tomorrow. We'll eat popcorn and chocolate and ready ourselves for the Lenten journey towards JOY, a journey which we can and should make joyfully.

God is SO good! ALL the time!!!