Thought of the Day January 25, 2019 Reflecting on our blessings brings joy
Remembering the blessings of God which we have
received over our lifetime, should raise a joyful response to God for his love
and mercy. Mary’s Magnificat is such a prayer of joy. So is the prayer that
Zachariah uttered at the time of John’s circumcision. The prayer of Simeon
after seeing the Messiah was a prayer of joy. Even the prayer of Jesus to the
Father at the end of the Last Supper was a response of joy for all the Father
had don and will do in glorifying the Son. Knowing that he was going back to the
Father and that the disciples would be initially sad, he prayed: But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they
may share my joy completely.
As I remember the many blessings of God,
gratitude and joy should well up in my heart. Take for instance the grace of my
baptism. Even though I may not have been conscious of this Kairos moment in my
life my parents and godparents
were joyful for me in becoming an adopted child of God. The Church was joyful
in the presence and ministry of the priest. The Father was joyful to welcome
and call me a beloved son. Jesus rejoiced that his death and resurrection
continued to transform creatures in alienation. With joy, the Spirit entered
into me. I became a Temple of the Holy Spirit, sharing the divine life of
God. My conscious joy occurs later in my
life. Having been told of this transforming grace and by grace coming to my own
convicting awareness of God's love, I rejoiced with gratitude in God's mercy
and gift of regeneration.
How often do we reflect on our many blessings with joy?
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