I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
"Is God happy?" we wonder. It's a question a child might ask and her grandmother might ponder.
Certainly, if God is not happy, nobody's happy! Why would anyone expect to be happy if God is not? Where would they get the chutzpah to claim such a privilege?
The New Testament assures us, God is very happy. We have heard the Voice of Thunder declare in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
The Father's pleasure is more than satisfaction or contentment. One can be satisfied or content with less than what one hoped for; but pleasure includes delight and surprise: "Wow! This is better than I expected!"
Overwhelmed as we might be by the 24-hour news cycles, we might forget the joy of the Lord. We might suppose this is not the time for joy.
It is good to hear Jesus describe his mission, his purpose in life: that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.