Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,
The priest Ezra exhorts the Jewish people in this Sunday’s first reading, “Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!” St. Paul echoes these words centuries later when he commands the Church, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). St. Paul heeds his own advice while in jail with Silas, as together they sing hymns to the Lord throughout the night (Acts16:25). St. Luke records Jesus rejoicing in the Holy Spirit as he offers a prayer of thanksgiving to the Father (Lk. 10:21).
In baptism and confirmation, we have been anointed with the same Spirit that fills Jesus, St. Paul and all the saints with joy. This joy is a fruit of forgiveness, redemption, adoption, salvation and new life. Jesus says that to inherit the Kingdom, we must become like little children. For children, the world has not yet become old and familiar but is full of surprises and opportunities for joy-filled wonder. As we age and grow accustomed to the world, our hearts can harden, and we may become cynical and bitter. Joy may seem like the least natural response to the mundaneness of our lives. You can see how essential Ezra’s words are: “Rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!”
On January 31, the Church celebrates St. John Bosco, who was a saint of great joy and zeal for instructing the young. He grew up in poverty and difficult social conditions in Italy in the 1800’s. Because of his difficult youth, after ordination to the priesthood he desired to serve the poor and the youth through the charism of joy. He was a magician and entertainer, and he instructed his fellow educators: “Love what the young love, and they will come to love Who you love.” He also said, “It’s not enough to love the young; they must know they are loved.” That, in the end, is the source of our joy: knowing that we are loved. St. John Bosco, pray for us, that our joy overflows into love of others.
In Christ,
Fr. Dave
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