Complete Joy

We are called to move beyond the less than mature level of spirituality that most of us Christians operate in—what I call the kindergarten or elementary school level of faith—to joy that is complete even amid trials. Austerities and persecution notwithstanding, John the Baptist could yet claim that his joy was complete (see John 3:29). This complete joy is available to each of us too, for Jesus said, "Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" (Jn 16:24). Remember too—and be heartened— that the same Jesus who was "sorrowful unto death" in the garden of Gethsemane also prayed for us, his followers, "that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (Jn 15:11). He further prayed that we might "have the completeness of my joy within them" (Jn 17:13).

Paul also prayed for his disciples to have this complete joy: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy," he told the members of the church in Rome (Rom 15:13). prayers like this must have been realized in many of the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Asia Minor, for Peter wrote to some of them that in spite of "suffering grief in all kinds of trials... you are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy" (1 Pt 1:6-8). This certainly sounds like the complete or pure joy that James urges—unadulterated with self-pity or any other pollutants.

Of course, Paul himself is a model Of complete joy. Even while chained in a prison at Philippi, he could write, "l will continue to rejoice, for I know that... through the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will tum out for my deliverance" (Phil 1:19). This unflagging continuity of joy in spite of any hardships is a sign of the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus, as Paul acknowledges. He urges the Philippians also to "rejoice in the God-focus that assures an unwavering continuity which Paul expresses by the word "always": "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Phil 4:4). Christ's indwelling Spirit is the source or "headwater" of the river of joy that flows with a continuity, unperturbed by any advertsity.

The author of Hebrews holds before us the perfect model of complete joy in suffering: Jesus, the "perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross.... Consider him... so that you will not grow weary and heart" (Heb 12:2-3). Jesus himself told us not to lose heart, for he has overcome the world. (Jn 16:33). When we receive this great fruit of Jesus' Spirit as the first outcropping of love, we become able to receive the truth of such statements—and also to make sense of certain paradoxes: "You will have trouble," Jesus says, but "do not let your hearts be troubled" (Jn 16:33; 14:1).

How can this pure and complete joy be activated in you? Abide in the love of Jesus (see John 15:10-11) through daily, prayerful reading of God's love letter, the Bible, and through deep personal prayer alone with the Lord. "In his presence is the fullness of joy" (ps 16:11), and an ongoing encounter with the Lord will result in ongoing joy, "like streams of water in the desert" (Is 32:2).

After their ecstatic encounter with the newborn Savior of the world, and still quivering from the angel's announcement of "tidings of great joy," the poor humble shepherds (looked down on as among the dregs of in that day) joyfully returned to their flocks, "glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen" (Lk 2:20). A true encounter with Jesus, "the Joy of Israel," will transform anyone with a touch of heaven's joy - a sparkle of God's own divine ecstasy.

This excerpt is from the book The Art of Loving God by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications, 1995. This and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.