Bearers of Good News

“Let us rejoice and be glad.”  

Responsorial verse

Pope Francis began his 2013 “vision setting” letter to the Church: “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.”

It is the mission of all Christians to give joy to everyone around them. We need to be conscious of this all day. We have the Good News. God wants us to spread it. How?

The last way is by talking about it. The first way is by living in a way that cannot be explained without it. A way that raises questions. We have to be sure our conduct always does that. By our body language. By our facial expression and tone of voice. By the way we respond to what is happening to us and around us. No matter how bad things are, we must keep ourselves conscious of what we rejoice in. And let it show.

We don’t deny evil and pain. Jesus made that clear on the cross. But we don’t stop there. We remember Easter Sunday and all that it says about what has happened, is happening, and will happen. The bottom line of everything is joy. We have to make that visible.

PRAY: Lord, give me the joy of your salvation.

PRACTICE: Look at the whole picture until you find joy.