Fr. John Catoir - Joyfully Living the Gospels Day by Day

JOYFULLY LIVING THE GOSPEL DAY BY DAY

I have revealed these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete (John 15:11).

JOYFULLY LIVING
THE GOSPEL
DAY BY DAY

MINUTE MEDITATIONS FOR EVERY DAY
CONTAINING A SCRIPTURE READING,
A REFLECTION, AND A PRAYER

By
FATHER JOHN CATOIR

Illustrated

CATHOLIC BOOK PUBLISHING CORP.

New Jersey

NIHIL OBSTAT: Sr. Kathleen Flanagan, S.C., Ph.D.

Censor Librorum

IMPRIMATUR: Frank J. Rodimer, J.C.D.

Bishop of Paterson

(T-l88)

eISBN 978-0-89942-099-8

2001 Catholic Book Publishing Corp., N.J.

www.catholicbookpublishing.com

INTRODUCTION

S T. Paul defined joy as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit: The fruits of the Spirit are charity, joy, peace (Gal 5:22).

The word fruit is used to denote the end-product of a process, or the result of some prior disposition. Joy is the by-product of a life lived under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit rather than a prize attained in some kind of competition.

Joy is the by-product of our intimacy with the indwelling Trinity. Jesus leads us to this life. Remember His words at the Last Supper, I have revealed these things to you so that your joy may be complete (Jn 15:11).

The words of Jesus continually point us in the direction of joy.

Have confidence, be of good cheer, says the Lord, in this world you will have many troubles, but I have overcome the world (Jn 16:33).

Listening to the Word of God in a spirit of obedience will transform you into a new creation. Faith is not merely a matter of pious devotions; faith involves a willingness to obey.

If you love Me, and obey Me, I will ask the Father and He will give you another Comforter, and He will never leave you (Jn 14:15, 16).

This Comforter is none other than the Holy Spirit of joy, peace, and love. Genuine faith, therefore, hears the words of Jesus and takes them to heart.

That means that if Jesus says Cheer up, you must try to snap yourself out of the blues. How does one do that? By guarding your mind from negative thinking. This little book will help you fine-tune your thinking. If Jesus says, Be not afraid, (Lk 12:4), then cancel those dreadful thoughts that cause you so much inner distress. The first step after belief is obedience.

Bl. Juliana of Norwich wrote these inspired words, The greatest honor we can give to Almighty God, greater than all our sacrifices and mortifications, is to live gladly, joyfully, because of the knowledge of His love.

You can do this. You can think of the good you have done, not the bad, the love you have received not the hate, the laughter you have shared not the tears. You can focus on Gods unchanging Love and be grateful in all circumstances. It pleases God to see you enjoy your precious life.

Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete (Jn 16:24).

Pursue a love-filled life, and joy will surely follow.

Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not consider yourself to be better than others, but associate with the lowly, and do not consider yourself to be wiser than you are (Rom 12:15).

I hope this book brings you hours of quiet enjoyment. Meanwhile, it is my prayer that the Lord will truly be your strength and your joy.

Father John Catoir

MARY said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.

Lk 1:38

R EFLECTION . Mary, the Mother of the Church, is also called the Cause for our Joy. Pope John Paul II explains why:

Christ came to bring joy: joy to children, joy to parents, joy to families and friends, joy to workers, and to scholars, joy to the sick and elderly, joy to all humanity. In a true sense joy is the keynote message and the recurring motif of the Gospels. Be messengers of joy.

P RAYER. Lord Jesus, teach me to be joyful on this, the first day of the year, and on all the days of my life.

BLESSED are we, O Israel, for what pleases God is known to us.

Bar 4:4

R EFLECTION. Love and good cheer go together. More than a century ago, Thomas Carlyle, the English historian, said: Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness and its power of endurance. The cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it better, will persevere in it longer, than the sad or sullen. Good cheer is universally praised.

P RAYER. Help me, Lord of my heart, to be of good cheer. I know that You love a cheerful giver, and I have a long way to go.

REJOICE in the Lord always. Again I say: Rejoice. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything.

Phil 4:4-5

R EFLECTION . The challenge of Paul has always intrigued me. Not only does he tell us not to worry about anything, he tells us to rejoicealways.

It seems a bit far-fetched when you consider the problems he was enduring himself. Here was a man facing trial and the danger of bodily punishment. He was flogged and imprisoned, but still he calls us to be joyful.

P RAYER. Father in heaven, teach me how to reject my fears, that I may live in Your joy.

THE person who is without love does not know God, for God is love.

1 Jn 4:8

R EFLECTION. Love is a basket of bread from which to eat for years to come.

Good loaves fragrant and warm miraculously multiplied; the basket is never empty the bread never stale.

Catherine de Vinck

P RAYER. Heavenly Lord, increase my love, and my joy.

BUT above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.

Col 3:14

R EFLECTION. Dear Lord, You bless everyone with the ability to love. To know You is to love You. To love You is to rejoice with You.

Still there are those who do not show signs of knowing You, the one, true God. Millions have not encountered Your Son, Jesus.

P RAYER. Jesus, help me to be a carrier of Your love. Show me the way to make Your Name known and loved.

AND this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.

1 Jn 5:3

R EFLECTION. Christ declared, No one comes to the Father except through Me (Jn 14:6).

The human heart longs for love. Without love, there is no joy. If you really love, you will be willing to make sacrifices. Joy and surrender go hand in hand.

P RAYER. I love You, my Lord, and my God. Teach me to love You more and more, that my joy may be full.

O GIVE thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.

Dan 3:89

R EFLECTION. Ten lepers approached Jesus as He was traveling to Jerusalem. People shunned them and feared them, because of the danger of contagion. Christ was moved to pity. He told them to visit the priests of the Mosaic Law, who would judge their cleansing.

All ten were miraculously cured. Only one returned to give thanks. Jesus said to him, Your faith has saved you (Lk 17:19).

P RAYER. Thank You, Lord, for giving me peace of mind and heart. I rejoice in Your love.

YOUR heart shall rejoice, and your limbs shall flourish like the young grass. The power of the Lord shall be made known to His servants.

Isa 66:14