The time between Jesus’ resurrection, which Christians celebrate on Easter Sunday, and His Ascension, 40 days later, is a time of Joy. Let us remember Jesus appeared to women first after His Resurrection. When the women told the eleven apostles, the apostles did not believe them, and were then reprimanded by Jesus for their unbelief. According to John Chapter 21, the first thing Jesus did was have a charcoal fire already laid to cook fish for the surprised apostles breakfast. Jesus also joined people for dinner, and walked with them along the road. During these 40 days the apostles and friends experienced Joy that He had risen and was with them. He walked around, ate, joked and proved to doubting Thomas He is real.
Joy is a fruit of Love. It seems we are most joyous when we have loved; maybe not romantic love, but like the unselfish love of the mother for her children. True love is unselfish, when we have given just because. Can we reflect when we have experienced Joy because of having given unselfish Love?
Let us experience Joy, too, these 40 days. He is not on the cross, the cross is His past. He is alive, having walked amongst men and ascended, available to everyone by invocation. Can we daily think of something that brings us Joy? Can we do something to bring Joy to others? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in a state of Joy all the time?
I leave you in Joy and wish you Joy the rest of your life.
Contact Maria Grace at maria@maria-grace.com
