Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete.” (Jn 15:9-11)
For many years, when young people have come up to me and asked me what they should go into “when they grow up”, I would ask them, “What makes you happy?”
Because, for me, the proof is in the pudding.
I do not believe that God calls us to misery. He calls us to joy. And if we find a profession that brings us incredible joy, that is the profession to which we are being called.
Joy.
It is what the Lord desired for His people.
Joy.
It is not something elusive.
Joy.
It is a reality that is open to all.
Joy.
It is found in God.
Jesus knew that. He expressed it quite openly to His followers. If they remained faithful to the commandments given to them, they would find an anchor in and for their lives. They would be able to find joy. And that joy would make them complete.
Embracing the commandments.
Is that not how we become miserable in our own lives: when we refuse to embrace the commandments?
We oftentimes insist on doing things our own way, on blazing our own paths, on establishing our own goals.
God is our goal. God is the way. God is the one who calls us to faithfulness and trust.
If we embrace His commandments, we will find the source of all joy.
FAITH ACTION: Find a good examination of conscience based upon the ten commandments such as the one found at Catholic examination of conscience. Take the time to study it and see what commandment(s) cause you to falter in your own faith life. Ask yourself the question, “What can I do to improve my life based upon embracing the commandments?”