Choose Joyنموونە

DAY 1 – AFRAID YET FILLED WITH JOY

Reflection: Let's begin our journey into joy through the stories surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. In today's reading, Matthew describes two women named Mary, followers of Jesus, visiting his tomb at dawn on the third day after his crucifixion. In this account, we’re told it’s Mary Magdalene and the ‘other Mary’ – known elsewhere as Mary the mother of Jacob. Taking all the Gospel accounts together, it’s likely there was a group of women approaching the tomb to properly prepare Jesus’ body in death.

But just as we sometimes think we're on a dead-end path, God has something very different in mind. For these faithful women, it’s not death they find, but life! They’re met by an angel who urgently explains Jesus is risen and they should quickly tell the rest of his disciples.

This news leaves the women ‘afraid yet filled with joy’ and so we discover a great truth about Christian joy. It survives fear. Not only survives it, but overwhelms it. The two Mary's were ‘filled with joy’ even though they had just experienced the brutal death of the One they followed, and then the shock of an empty tomb.

How is it that so much fear and loss are overcome by joy? Because they believe Jesus is alive! There is no other starting point for a truly joy-strengthened life than to choose faith in the living reality of Jesus Christ. When we make this choice, we choose joy too.

Choose joy: Make a list of your fears or worries. Now talk to God – in your mind or out loud and say – Dear God, there is one name greater than all my fears – Jesus. I believe he died and rose again for me. Please forgive me, and lead me into the joy of knowing your presence every day. Fill me with joy, despite my fear. Amen.