He Creates Joy

~~~ Isaiah 65:17-21 ~~~Psalm 30 ~~~ John 4:43-54 ~~~

We are at the mid point of our Lenten journey;
 the readings are filled with joy.
Jesus came so that we might have eternal life...
that we might be saved from our own weaknesses.
He indeed came to make all things new.
The old ways were no longer sufficient; he gave us more.
God the Father wanted more for us because he loves us.

Thus says the LORD:
Lo, I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
The things of the past shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness
in what I create...

Wow! There will always be rejoicing and happiness
 in what I create.
Notice he said always,
 not sometimes or occasionally, but always.
In our world today we lose sight of joy.
Happiness is often too hard to grasp, or so we feel.

Jesus is about to be crucified and he wants us
 to find joy in his dying for us.
He wants our laughter and joyful singing rather than our tears.

No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying...

He makes all things new in heaven and on earth.
He wants us to look forward to his new creations...
the things of the past remember no more.
His new creation...eternal life...
washes away our past sins.

You changed my mourning into dancing;

O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.

It is in dying that he secured for us our heavenly home.
In heaven there is only the glory and joy of God.
There will be no more sadness...no more weeping,
but dancing and singing his praises.

Jesus returns to Cana, where he performed his first miracle
changing water into wine.
This visit would be different;
he was able to grant the healing of the soldier's son.
At the very moment he spoke the words of healing
 the child was given new life.

The father realized that just at that time 
Jesus had said to him,
“Your son will live,”

There was nothing but joy and happiness;
that was the only possible response.

Jesus restored the child's life.
Jesus is our Life.
We are his new creation.
We are constantly given the opportunity to become his new creation .
There is no end to what God can create in our lives.

I invite you to pray that God will open your heart
to become his new creation.
All things are possible with God.
There is still time to have a good Lent.
A Lent where you are changed into a new creation.
It is possible to live in joy.
Blessing come in sharing the joy of the Lord.

Do it today...rejoice in his new creation.

It is you!

Joy of Discovery

~~~ Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29 ~~~ Psalm 69 ~~~ Luke 10:17-24 ~~~

 

The seventy-two disciples who left with nothing returned

to share their surprising experiences.

Even though they took nothing with them

they were able to see great results.

“Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”

 

They return filled with excitement and joy like a child

first discovering a bird's nest or a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

When was the last time you experienced that kind of joy?

 

Before leaving there is no way they could have imagined

all that God would accomplish through them. 

Because they were obedient and trusted in the Lord

he was able to use them for good.

 

Each pair returned to find that they all had had similar experiences.

Now Jesus must remind them amidst their rejoicing just

how these things came to fruition.

 

...do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus reminds them that their 'power' was given to them from him.

 

 

God is still sending out men and women to share his message.

He still makes his presence a reality though those whom he sends forth.

 

As we have seen in the Gospel readings there are no special

requirements to do this work.

It is not about the individual person it is about being the instrument of God.

It is about believing, inviting, and allowing God to work through you.

 

Jesus was quick to remind the disciples that what they

 accomplished was the work of God the Father.

 

We can do all things when we allow God to work through us.

 

The disciples were blessed because God was with them.

Blessings come to us when we walk with God.

One word of caution...give God the credit.

The Weeping is Real

 

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 2:36-41~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ John 20:11-18 ~~~

 

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.

 

While we are in the midst of rejoicing in the Resurrection of the Lord,

we must remember back some two thousand years.

The Blessed Mother and those closest to Jesus were not rejoicing

the Tuesday following the Crucifixion of their beloved Jesus.

 

They were confused and sad; their loved one was no longer physically with them.

They had spent day after day with Jesus.

They had been witnesses to his miracles of healing, compassion, and mercy.

They were present as the one they loved was wrongfully

accused and condemned to death.

 

Even though he told them this was to come; they still had to endure.

They were powerless to stop the cruelty of the passion.

They could only watch, weep, and trust his words promising to return.

They could only stand in hope-filled prayer.

They could not cry out for the scourging to stop.

They could not cry out for someone to help Jesus carry the cross.

They were saddened beyond words as the hammer drove the nails

through his hands and feet.

 

 

As we continue our rejoicing, let this be with the backdrop of the Gospel

story we are given today.

 

If you have experienced the death of a loved one

you know that even granted a vision confirming

them to be in heaven...

you would still experience the loss

 and the emptiness

of no longer having them with you.

You would miss the times you shared together.

 

Knowledge of eternal life does not take away the pain of losing a loved one.

You still must have your season of grieving. 

 

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is made to you and to your children
and to all those far off,
whomever the Lord our God will call.”

 

Jesus left us the promise of the Holy Spirit...

and it is continuously being fulfilled.

 

God has called each of us to be in his presence...

to spread the good news throughout the world.

 

Whatever sorrow is in your life there also is the promise of God's glory...

the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit.