All the talk about joy in this season got me to thinking about my own experience and understanding of joy. I resonated with this bit from America Magazine. Joy comes in relationship and needs an object. Yes! [...] let me distinguish joy from happiness. Unlike happiness, joy is not simply a fleeting feeling or an evanescent emotion, it is a permanent result of one’s connection to God. While the more secular definition of joy may be simply an intense form of happiness, religious joy is always about a relationship. Joy has an object and that object is God. The ultimate response to the good news is joy, one that is lasting and can endure even in the midst of difficulties. James Martin, SJ, Have Faith in Joy, America Magazine, December 23-30, 2013. Here is another nice discussion on joy.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 12:45:04 +0000