Spiritual Message from Fr Augustinos:
Joy for the World
“For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy” Luke 1:44.
Last Monday the Early 5am to 7am mass was very quiet, at the end of the mass one of the deacons said to me, “Abouna do you know why there wasn’t many people at mass this morning”? I said “no why?”, he said, “Because they were all watching the world cup final at 2am this morning.”
I could imagine the scene of all who were watching the game at 2am, sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting and hoping that the side they follow would score a goal. When their team scores, they jump to their feet in great joy and cheer loudly, clapping, singing and even shedding some tears. I think I was more joyful praying for them in the Mass
2000 years ago a profoundly important event happened, where there was a great leaping of joy of a 6month old foetus for an embryo of about of 1 week. This was the leaping of St John for joy in the womb of St Elizabeth during the visit of St Mary who was expecting the birth of her Son Jesus. This has previously been compared to the Ark that contains the presence of God, a presence that is a source of consolation, of total joy or extreme reverence. St John, in fact, leaps in Elizabeth’s womb, just as David danced and leap for joy before the Ark. It reminds us of the scene in 2 Samuel verse 6 when David dances and leaps excitedly as the Ark of the Covenant is brought into Jerusalem. In both cases, the Word of God is physically present. Before John, the Word is Jesus in the womb of St Mary. Before David, the Word is in the form of the Ten Commandments within the Ark. For them, being in the presence of the Lord was not something they took lightly. They were not afraid or saddened, they were filled with a great joy so immense and so uplifting that the only way they could express themselves was by leaping and bowing for joy.
In all the Biblical events where there was an encounter with our Lord Jesus, there was great joy that fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus, everyone went home joyful. Faith in our lord Jesus, who is the Word of God incarnate, is not something that should bring us down but fills us with the greatest joy. How much do we leap or bow for joy when we feel that we are in the presence of God, in fact if we believe in the providence of God then our joy will be every minute of our lives. How much joy do we feel when we are in the Liturgy in the presence of the glory of God? How much joy that our Lord Jesus brings to world knowing that His incarnation was for me personally to give me salvation, redemption, forgiveness and eternal life. While I am alive on earth, he gives me Himself, His body, His Blood, His personal divine love, His unlimited compassion and His mercy beyond human comprehension that will surely make me leap and bow in joy within my heart.
May we always strive to discover how to live a life full of the true joy in the Lord, to be in His presence and to know that there is no other joy in the world that can fulfil our heart other than our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to find this joy now before days become more difficult.