Saved for Joy

The Paschal Mystery

Unit 3, Chapter 8

Document #:TX 005797

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series

Jesus Promised Joy

Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,
while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief
will become joy. . . . I will see you again, and your
hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away
from you. (John 16:20,22)

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series

Joy Points Beyond Itself

Joy itself, considered simply as an event in my
own mind, turned out to be of no value at all. All
the value lay in that of which Joy was the
desiring. And that object, quite clearly, was no
state of my own mind or body at all. (C. S. Lewis,
Surprised by Joy, p. 220)

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series

We Are Set Free

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. (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 1)

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series

Joy Is for Everyone

The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can be

excluded (Evangelii Gaudium, 23).

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series

The Joy of Faith

Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even
as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that,
when everything is said and done, we are infinitely
loved. . . . Slowly but surely we all have to let the joy
of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid
the greatest distress. (Evangelii Gaudium, 6)

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series

The Joy of Christs Love

No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by

[Christs] boundless and unfailing love. With a
tenderness which never disappoints, but is always
capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us
to lift up our heads and to start anew. (Evangelii
Gaudium, 3)

Image in public domain

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series

The Joy of God

The good news is the joy of the Father who desires that
none of his little ones be lost, the joy of the Good
Shepherd who finds the lost sheep and brings it back to
the flock (Evangelii Gaudium, 237).

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series

Joy Pushes Us Outward

[The Churchs] joy in communicating Jesus Christ is

expressed both by a concern to preach him to areas in
greater need and in constantly going forth to the outskirts
of its own territory or towards new sociocultural settings
(Evangelii Gaudium, 30).

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series

A Missionary Joy
The Gospel joy which enlivens the community of
disciples is a missionary joy. . . . This joy is a sign that
the Gospel has been proclaimed and is bearing fruit. Yet
the drive to go forth and give, to go out from ourselves,
to keep pressing forward in our sowing of the good seed,
remains ever present (Evangelii Gaudium, 21).

2016 Saint Marys Press

Living in Christ Series