Fifth Sunday of Easter

Unexpected Joy

AND YOUR JOY MIGHT BE COMPLETE.

Oh Sacred One, source of love; you created everything to share your joy. Open our hearts to be receptive to your love, so that we can become your instruments in a hurting world. For it is giving away your love, that we will experience true joy.

Share a time when you experienced the joy of making a new friend or through an encounter with a stranger.

Carolyn Trumble feeding a person with developmental disabilities during an immersion in Jamaica (Sept. 2018)

Carolyn Trumble on an immersion trip to Jamaica visited Blessed Assurance, a home for youth with developmental disabilities, and shared the following reflection: 

I tripped over my insecurities as I sat down next to your wheelchair
I looked at the bowl of rice and beans in my hands Then looked at your hands moving about
My only desire was to feed you with respect and dignity, and for us both to not be wearing the rice when we were done
Silence fell over your body as we dove into the first bite We began a rhythm you and I
And suddenly a moment of fear became a moment of connection
I looked deeply into your eyes, each one pointed in a different direction
I saw you baby
I saw you
I will never know your story
I don’t even know your name
But for a brief time today our stories merged.
And for a lifetime I will remember you.

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends,because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.” Jn 15:9-17

Two things motivate people to act, one is to move away from fear and the other is to move towards what gives us joy. Because God is love, God wants our commitment to missionary discipleship to be rooted in joy. Jesus shows the way to that joy by leaving the comfort of the shore to encounter others and embrace them in friendship. We can only do this as a community that walks the journey together and welcomes those on the margins.

In what ways is the Spirit moving you and your community to be more rooted in joy?

Inspired by Pope Francis’ words in “The Joy of the Gospel,” take on the challenge of discovering more about God through encountering others in love. Step out of your comfort zone this week and engage in an activity that brings you joy while fostering a sense of communal connection. Afterward, share your experience with us—write about what brought you joy during this venture beyond your comfort zone. Let’s collectively embrace the joy that comes from connecting with others in love and exploring new horizons.

Learn more about synodality from Fr. Joe Healey, MM.

Holy Spirit, inspire us this week to have the courage to leave our comfort zone to learn something new about you as we encounter others in love. Help us find and make new friends in unlikely places.