Dance with Shouts of Joy

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Zion, have no fear, do not let your hands fall limp.
The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you, he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.

Zephaniah 3:16,17


Today is the joy-filled feast day of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Mother Church joyfully celebrates the visit of the pregnant Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, remembering what a joyous, Holy Spirit filled event that was. The first reading is chosen from Zephaniah where He prophesies the restoration of the remnant of Israel.

Two things stand out for me about Mary's visitation with Elizabeth.  Firstly that the Holy Spirit sanctified the event, baptising both Elizabeth and baby John in her womb.  Secondly that it was an event drenched with joy.  Zephaniah describes God "dancing with shouts of joy".  I'm sure He was doing this during Mary's visit with Elizabeth.  Why?  Because His glorious plan of salvation for all mankind was starting to be worked out through the humble obedience of a young Jewish girl.

Today I celebrate this glorious feast along with Mother Church, full of exuberant joy.  I join God in His glorious dance!

Thank you Father for your wonderful plan to save me.  Thank you Mary for your humble but resounding "Yes" that brought that plan into fruition.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen!

Love Others

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.'
Jn.15:12

Giving His final words at the Last supper, Jesus summarises all His teachings in this one verse.  It's the clarion call He leaves ringing in the ears of His disciples.  It's the call that will overcome the world where other religions have failed.  It's the call that works from the inside out, instead of the outside in and so its effect is more profound.

If I were to ask a non-believer what Christianity was about, the word love would be in their answer I think; "Oh Christians, they're meant to love their enemies aren't they?"  Love is meant to be the hallmark of our Church.  It's what the world starves for, ...it's what I starve for.  In this respect I'm like a little child; "tell me again how much you love me?", I can never hear it enough.  Others can't hear it enough from me.

Loving others is easy to say but hard to do.  It flys in the face of my natural selfishness.  Some people aren't very lovely.  Yet there it stands, a commandment from Jesus no less.  I need help to love as He has loved me, supernatural help.  Come Holy Spirit...

Lord Jesus, You know how fickle my love can be and yet You place the commandment of love before me today.  Spirit of God, help me be a great lover today that Jesus may be glorified.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

God is Love

‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love.'
Jn.15:9,10

At the Last Supper, Jesus is leaving His disciples the fragrance of who He essentially is... Love.  Jesus reiterates that to know His love is to know the love of the Father.

Jesus bridges the great divide between God the Father and me. God the Father is no longer a distant, imperious God.   I can now say I know the love of God the Father.  The Father's love embraces little children.  The Father's love heals the sick.  The Father's love weeps when I weep.  The Father's love raises people from the dead.  The Father's love forgives my sins.  The Father's love says He is with me always.

I walk into today knowing I am incredibly loved by God the Father.  What a difference that makes to today!

Father in Heaven, thank you for loving me so much that You sent Your one and only Son so that I may believe in Him and have eternal life. Send me Your spirit to help me keep the commandments of Your Son and so remain in Your love.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Connected

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Jn.15:5

Jesus continues His discourse at the Last Supper.  He uses the powerful analogy of the vine and branches, something that every man in that room would clearly understand.  Preparing His disciples for His imminent passion and death, He says a seemingly contradictory thing, that they must remain connected to Him. How? ..."you remain in me and my words remain in you".

This scripture speaks powerfully to me.  I have known times when I have not been connected to Jesus, times I have slowly but steadily drifted away.  I recognise when this has happened when I find myself suddenly struggling with temptations and sin that never bothered me before.  I had become disconnected from Jesus.  How?  In every case I had neglected His Word, stopped my daily prayer time. 

Conversely, I am most at peace, most filled with joy when I am regular in my daily prayer time, reading and meditating on His Word.  My daily prayer time is not just a nice thing to do, it is essential for a full and fruitful life.  This is a life-long commitment.  I recommit to my morning prayer, starting today...

Jesus my friend, You are my vine to whom I am connected to for life.  Send me Your Spirit to help me stay connected, for cut off from You I can do nothing.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

His Peace He Gives Me

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.'

Jn.14:27

Jesus is speaking to His disciples at the Last Supper, His passion and death are imminent. Knowing what is about to happen, there is every reason for Jesus' own heart to be troubled and afraid.  Yet His concern is for His disciples, what they are going to face after He has left them. Jesus offers them, and us, the very opposite to what they will experience; peace in the place of fear.

This quote from Jesus is said at every Mass at the Sign of Peace, just before Eucharist. I remember as a non-believer hearing those words and thinking, "I need that peace". It was the very first thing about Jesus that attracted me, the very first thing He offered me that I wanted; a peace that I had already found the world could not give.

Jesus never promised I would be free from troubles.  I live in a fallen world.  By definition that means troubles will come.  But Jesus does promise to never leave me, that His gift of peace, despite what is happening, is always there for me. What a gift for me to carry into my day today!

Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace.  I embrace Your gift of peace you offer me today, that my heart will not be troubled or afraid.  Jesus, I place my trust in You, my peace.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Come Holy Spirit

I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you.
Jn.14:26

Jesus continues His final discourse to the disciples following the Last Supper.  He is asked if His revelation is just for His disciples only.  Jesus' reply confirms that His message is for any and everyone who loves Him.  This is confirmed for all time, including our present day.  How?  By the Holy Spirit sent by God.

This is such good news for me!  The fullness of Jesus is available to me today; His power, His Love, His fellowship; His healing... everything!  How?  By inviting the Holy Spirit into my life in the name of Jesus.  I cannot be an authentic follower of Jesus without the Holy Spirit active in my life.  He is the X-factor that makes Christ alive in me.  O come Holy Spirit...

Holy Spirit of God, come into my life today I pray, in the precious name of Jesus. Teach me and remind me of all that Jesus tells me, that I may glorify Him.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

I will Do It

Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.
Jn.14:13,14

It's during Jesus' discourse at the Last Supper and the disciples are starting to feel alarmed at what Jesus is alluding to.  The questions start flowing.  Philip asks to see the Father.  Jesus responds that to see Him is to see the Father. Jesus then goes on to say the remarkable thing that not only do His works testify to this but that also the works of any believer will testify to it. We only need to ask in His name!

I've asked for many things in the name of Jesus.  Some have been given as requested, some have not.  This is always a test of faith, to ask expectantly but accepting whatever the answer is.  Sometimes it's "Yes", sometimes "No" and sometimes "Not yet".  Yet Jesus very clearly says "I will do it". 

The key for me is what Jesus says earlier in verse 14:12 "whoever believes in me...". It's where belief is strong that Jesus works.  Faith tells me that Jesus is true to His word, that He hears every genuine prayer in His name and He will act. Now, whether I see the results of that answered prayer becomes not "If" but "When".  I may have to wait, but my prayer will be answered.

This is a great attitude to approach prayer with, right now...

Thank you Jesus that You are faithful to Your Word, that You do answer prayer in Your name.  Lord, give me the faith to always pray expectantly and with trust in you.
Little Flower please pray for me.