Fr. Don's Daily Reflection
Jesus apparently expected that acceptance of his message would bring some joy. “All this I tell you that my joy may be yours and your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). Do we treat joy too easily as a natural quality of some individuals and somberness or even grumpiness as a natural quality of others? Differences of temperament seem pretty obvious, but the words of Jesus suppose that some joy should be a consequence of our belief in the Risen Christ. We can't let ourselves off the hook entirely by pleading a heavy personality. If instead of joy we speak of a positive spirit, an attitude marked by hope and trust, it might be clearer.
For the Christian, some positive and hopeful attitude toward life, based on the resurrection, is not simply another option like whether or not I like bowling or garlic. Belief in the resurrection must have some consequences. We contribute to the world's hope and joy to the degree that it does. And none of us is so independent that how others feel, how they act, what they say, is of no importance to us. Negative, grumpy people in oversupply affect us all. The presence of joy and hope, on the contrary, raises our own spirits. Without being phony, we can still offer the people around us talk and an attitude which builds up and offers hope.