Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Christians, unfortunately, have sometimes had the reputation of being somber, miserable people who have no joy in their life. Does this sound familiar? I've known "church goers" who fit that description and I'm afraid it's turned some people away from Christianity. I don't think I appear somber or miserable (at least I hope not), but I'd also like to know more joy in my life. I'm not talking about superficial or fleeting happiness, or a denial of or even absence of suffering, but a deep joy and complete joy.
Today’s gospel reading (John 15: 9-11) tells us that Jesus offers his disciples the same joy that is in him, and it can be a complete joy. It is a short, but rich gospel reading in which Jesus reveals the key to sharing in his joy: “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love…. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” So, if we're Jesus' followers, we are offered that same joy.
Now the question may be, what are Jesus commandments? What commandments do we have to keep in order to be a disciple of Jesus? Well, a similar question came up for the early disciples that we read about in today’s first reading (Acts 15: 7-21). This passage is part of what is called the Council of Jerusalem in which it was decided that the Gentile converts did not have to conform to all of the Jewish laws and rituals, specifically circumcision, in order to be a Christian. The Apostles decided that what was central to the Christian faith was believing in the risen Christ.
Returning to the gospel, we can look to the verse following today’s passage to directly answer the question above. Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that his commandment is “love one another as I love you.” (Vs. 12) We are called to love each other as Jesus as loves us?! Sounds daunting if it’s just up to me; but it’s not, because we are also called to remain in Jesus’ love.
There are two important pieces to Jesus’ message to us in today’s gospel, which lead to the third part: 1) remain in his love, and 2) keep his commandments (love one another). These go hand in hand. If we remain in Jesus’ love, it follows that we will love one another. And if we love each other, then we’re remaining in Jesus’ love. And this, the gospel tells us, is how we will have Jesus’ joy within us and have it completely. Remain in him; love one another; and your joy will be complete.
It doesn’t mean we won’t suffer and it doesn’t mean it will always be easy. In the next chapter of John’s gospel Jesus acknowledges that the disciples will suffer and grieve, as even he was preparing to suffer and die, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” (16: 20-22)
I think all of us can point to plenty of times of suffering in our lives, some physical, some psychological or even spiritual. I’ve certainly known the suffering of labor in childbirth as well as the grief of miscarriage, and the struggles that come with loving others, including a spouse and children. I hope all of us have experienced some of the joy, too, that comes from loving and being open to love in Jesus. Even if it is just a glimpse of joy with the hope of more to come.
In the book All Saints, Robert Ellsberg writes about Julian of Norwich, fourteenth century Christian Mystic who reminds us that God suffered for this world, and whatever we may suffer God has already suffered, and in the end God’s suffering is turned to joy.
Confident of this promise, and remaining in Jesus’ love, may we know His joy and be able to say with Julian, the great mystic, “All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
Eileen Miller