Complete Joy!

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Acts 15:7-21; Jn 15:9-11

Today’s Gospel highlights the consistency in Jesus’ argument. 

1. Jesus knew what it meant to enjoy a fruitful union with God. Hence, he invites the disciples to a similar union to enjoy the same fruits. Jesus universalizes the benefits of spiritual union with God. 

2. There is no incongruity in Jesus’ statements. Only after remaining in God’s love by obeying the commandments himself does Jesus invite others to imitate his example. We have in Jesus our elder brother, who walked the way before showing it to us.

3. Jesus is persuasive in tone. Jesus’ invitation to enter into the Divine Communion arises as a gesture of his friendship. It is more a labor of love than the imposing of a burden. 

4. Jesus is highly consistent. Jesus remembers his promise at every stage. A couple of days ago, we reflected on Jesus giving us ‘his’ peace (Jn 14:27), which is different from the peace conventionally understood. Today, he gives us ‘his’ joy, which would be heavenly as opposed to the fleeting or transitory nature of worldly joy. 

5. Jesus invites us to note the difference here. When ‘his’ joy is in us, ‘our’ joy might be complete. Only Jesus can bless us with the fullness of joy. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar