By Sister Anastasia Marie, O.C.D
When I started to think about joy, the first thought that came to mind was, “What is the experience of joy?!” I realized I put joy and happiness together and really, there is a difference. Happiness is something I do to create the emotion, like, playing with a puppy. Joy is a supernatural gift from the Holy Spirit, one of the fruits, an outpouring of God’s love. When I experience joy, I have an up-lifting of my entire being to God, my heart is overflowing with His love, and it flows out to those around me.
When does this normally happen, this outpouring of love? It’s when I’m focused on the other, loving God and my neighbor or there are times of joy when I’m simply with Him. That could be during times of Adoration, at Mass either in the Liturgy of the Word or receiving His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist, times of prayer or even when I’m helping my neighbor with a project. This gift of joy is cultivated when the focus is outside of myself, the exact opposite happens when I focus entirely on me.
I couldn’t help but to ponder on how to keep this joy. As I continued to pray with this, I realized that going about the Father’s business, being in His Most Holy Will, will give me every opportunity to experience joy. As we all continue to grow in relationship with God, joy will come more often, and it is a gift that we can share with one another.
