I am writing this reflection on the day of Pope Francis’ funeral. We felt the sadness of losing someone who reminded and encouraged us to be more merciful, charitable, humble, and courageous, and to serve the Lord joyfully. By this time, we will have a new Pope who will continue to lead our Mother Church on its journey.

Our Gospel today provides a profound insight into the transformative power of grief and joy. Jesus told his disciples, “You will grieve, but your grief will become joy; Now is your time to grieve, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”

But what is this joy? St. Peter Julian Eymard speaks of joy as a gift from the Creator, it is the grace of the Resurrection. He continues saying that we should be happy for three reasons: first, God loves us so much that He gave us the greatest testimony of His love. Then He gave us all the gifts, all the graces, the wisdom, the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and then, He gave us the Eucharist, as Eymard mentioned, which serves as a constant reminder of this divine love, nourishing our souls and fortifying our spirits.

Serve the Lord with joy! Both Pope Francis and Father Eymard tell us that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy, and joy follows peace.

The promise that “no one will take away your joy” is a testament to the enduring and divine nature of the happiness bestowed by God. It transcends temporary circumstances and is solidified through our faith. It assures us that even in our darkest moments, joy is possible and inevitable, as long as we remain steadfast in our faith.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, grant us the grace to serve you with joy. May our grief transform into everlasting joy, nourished by your divine love and the Eucharist. Strengthen our faith so that, even in our darkest moments, we may find the joy that your promise assures us. Amen.