Do
you ever wonder if God works in your life?
I know I’m always looking for signs of Him around me. One day, I told a friend that I needed to be
more Joyful in my life. My focus was distracted by misdirection that was getting me
down. The words flowed from my mouth as I walked out the door at attend Mass that Friday morning. Lo and
behold. God had a plan for me.
The
Gospel reading at Mass was John 16:20-23.
Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
As I read the Gospel immediately before Mass
began, my focus pulled to John 16:23, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you
ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
There was much on my mind and heart that I felt I should be giving up to
God at that time. Here was what I needed
to hear, or so I thought.
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John 16:23 |
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John 16:22 |
Father John told us that our Joy is a gift
from God. Joy is different than just
happiness. Joy comes from knowing God is
triumphant, from knowing He is working in our lives. We have Joy even when things aren’t going
well because God is always with us, working within us. Our Joy that bubbles inside is due to the
Spirit of the Lord bubbling inside of us.
Our Joy cannot be taken away from us, though
at times we will surrender it. It is
always there for us, just as God is always there for us. It is up to us to claim our Joy and recognize
that God triumphs.
Wow.
What a message. It was as though
God inspired Father John’s words just for me to hear. I was once again reminded that God still sendsAngels to give us messages.
That day I heard loud and clear that I
needed to claim my Joy and recognize God working in my life.

Lisa Jones