The Fullness of Joy

Recently I looked up the number of references to the words “Joy” and “Rejoicing” in the Bible. There are 334 references. Then I looked up references to “Happy” and “Happiness.” There are only 24 references. That tells us something. As we go through life, we say “I want to be happy.”  But, how often do we say “I want to be joyful”?

Happiness depends on our circumstances. We can be happy one moment, then we get some bad news and the happiness goes away.  But joy is different. The joy Our Lord wants us to have is a joy that permeates our very being. Mary, our Blessed Mother, had the fullness of this joy during her earthly lifetime and she was not afraid to share it.

Sharing the Joy

Bearing no stain of original sin -- there were no barriers or obstacles to interfere with Mary’s faith and love for God which enabled Mary to say yes at the Annunciation, giving the world new hope. Filled with God’s grace, filled with the Holy Spirit, the Word became flesh in Mary’s womb. Carrying Jesus within her, Mary carried the hope and joy of salvation, which Our Lady shared.

In haste, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When her cousin heard Mary’s greetings, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt with joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” [Luke 1:46, 47]  

This joy is alive in us, just as it was in Mary, when we say yes to God’s will, open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, and keep Our Lord’s commandments, especially to love one another as God loves each of us. With this joy comes a sense of hope and peace that protects us, even when we face our greatest challenges.

We see this in Mary when she gave birth in a stable. And the angels rejoiced, sharing the good news of great joy with the shepherds in the field that a Savior had been born. Mary and Joseph welcomed the shepherds. They welcomed the wise men. They welcomed Simeon to take baby Jesus into his arms during the presentation at the Temple. And Mary did not pull Christ away in fear when Simeon said “and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” [Luke 2:35]

Joy of Our Lord

Although Mary was blessed, she faced hardships and major responsibilities. Imagine Mary’s anxiety when she and Joseph could not find young Jesus for three days. Imagine their joy when they found Jesus in the temple speaking with the elders. Throughout her life, Mary persevered. Even in sorrow, the joy of Our Lord remained in Mary’s heart for how else could Our Lady become Mother to us all?

The joy that Mary shares with us does not leave us in our sorrows because Mary brings us to her Son. To know and to love Jesus is to know and to love God. In this union we receive the Holy Spirit so that we too can share the hope and joy of salvation by the way we live and treat one another. Then when Jesus comes again, we will have the fullness of joy for all eternity.