As I read through the various prayers and accounts of Fatima and those who go to the shrine in Portugal, I constantly come across the word "Joy." This makes sense because one of the messages we receive from Jesus is to be people of Joy. I have always been fascinated by the message of joy. It seems to me that if we are not people of joy, people who share the joy of Christ, then we have missed out on a most important part of the message of Jesus.
Why is this important? Simply put, the Gospel is about the Good News of Jesus Christ. We call the Mass a celebration. Pope Francis has constantly emphasized the importance of joy.
I try to be a messenger of joy. My unwritten agenda for Mass is that people leave with a sense that their burdens have been lifted a little, they know they are not alone, there is incredible solidarity in a parish where people observe joy in each other, and that it really is a result of loving God and being loved by God. I believe there is a cumulative effect in practicing joy - it builds and builds. I will immediately concede that there are situations, often many of them, which are anything but joyful. At those times, we can still find joy - perhaps in knowing that God will not abandon us, or that, in the ultimate end, things will work out for the best.
I do believe that God wants us to be happy. I believe that God wants us to connect with joy and to lift each other up. I believe that this can and should happen in a parish, especially at Mass, more than any other place where we are. It is what we are about.
One of my experiences of being with this image of Our Lady of Fatima was the experience of gentle, quiet joy. It was palpable. Now I need to figure out how this can continue in my life. I do have some hunches on how to do this. If I can sort them out, I'll write about them.
Until that time, may the joy of Our Lady of Fatima stay with us.
TODAY'S GRATITUDE: For the people who have brought joy into my life.