"The most noble human act is joy," so saith St. Thomas Aquinas. I've also heard, but I know not from where, that "joy is the surest sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit." What is joy? Is it a giddy happiness more typified by a passing moment that is truly exhilarating? Is it not more a state one abides in? Is it not coming home from a day's work and delighting in life, even with its ups and downs? Is not joy the relishing of the people in your life, even if they are at times difficult, burdensome and occasions for learning the virtue of patience? Is not joy connected to faith, hope and love?
Joy for me is living here in Boulder, Colorado, serving my parishioners whom God has given me. Joy is seeing some progress in coming to see more clearly the areas of my life where I need the Savior to save me from being my worst self, which every now and then blossoms into some ugly plant, instead of the garden of virtues the Lord ever so gently moves us towards.
Joy for me is being here for people as they come out of nowhere with the burden of their sins, or sufferings or complex situations, and being some small reflection of love and encouragement and challenge to walk in the presence of the Lord. Joy for me is the celebration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments. Joy is finding a way to cope with a life's worth of physical pain so that my joy is not cheated. Joy is . . . well, simply being grateful to God -- for everything.
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