Webster defines joy as “a very glad feeling.” Theologians, as usual, complicate things by splitting joy in two: sensible joy and intellectual (spiritual) joy.
Sensible joy is easy to describe. Think of finishing your favorite meal done just the way you like it. Or hearing your favorite song by the original band; the smell of lilac on a sunny spring day. Joy may be either the action itself (the tasting, seeing, feeling) or the pleasant state that accompanies the achieving of this good thing (. . . how’s that for over analyzing?!)
Spiritual joy is different. It may have similar feelings attached to it (gladness, cheeriness), but it goes deeper than something pleasing to the senses. It has its origin in an awareness of a “Good” that has been obtained through virtuous action.
For example, a swimmer trains for months for the big meet. They experience joy when they see their efforts have paid off with their best time ever. The joy is in the awareness of a “good accomplished”. . . “Look what you have done! Your hard work has really paid off. You really are a fine swimmer!”.
Or . . . during a difficult friendship. You stuck with someone who was going through a hard time. Everyone was down on this person, but you resisted all urges to run away. You never wavered in your friendship. Suddenly, you both realize that this is what friendship really means. This is a joy!
Spiritual joy usually comes with some effort of the will, some “doing the right thing”. In fact, real joy often comes with suffering. Just ask a mother with her newborn.
So what are your moments of spiritual joy? A laugh out loud about some absurd life experience? A sense of wonder at this world’s beauty? The stunningly beautiful innocence of a child? Joy can make you choke up.
Here’s a few of mine. What are yours? Moments of Joy:
- Running. The physical joy of motion and muscle and youth. To be alive!
- 21 yrs old. Standing on the 17th tee at Durand Eastman, suddenly knowing that Rochester is where I wanted to live my life. (How do you explain these things?!)
- Handel’s Messiah. Pure joy. Also, Samuel Barber’s “Adagio”. I can die in peace.
- A dream I had about God a long time ago. I can still feel what it was like.
- The change of seasons brings joy (and a sweet sadness sometimes which is a weird kind of joy too).
- Memories of friends and their great kindnesses.
- Times of laughter with friends, made more intense by some worry we all endured together.
- Being a priest and seeing God touch people’s lives.
- Watching children be children.
- Knowing (because Christ said so) that it’s all going to turn out all right. Love wins. Darkness and hatred are on the losing team. Let’s spend this life doing the things He asked of us. This purpose in life brings joy.
Of course moments of true joy are simply a foretaste of the vision of the beauty and goodness of God.
“Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered the mind what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9
Two weeks to go ………….. wait ……………. Pray.
Fr. Tim
