The Gospel of John resonates with this theme of sorrow being turned to joy; Jesus had to leave the disciples to send the Holy Spirit. Grief would be turned to joy when the Holy Spirit comes. This joy goes deeper than the fleeting emotions we know because it is eternal, and its origin is the Holy Spirit. It is the work of God within our lives when we die to self in total surrender. We have a vivid light on the kind of life Saint Paul lived. We see his zeal for God and how he received his courage and strength from God. He faced many hardships fearlessly in total surrender, certain of the joy to follow. Saint John Paul II said, “We do not pretend life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the resurrection. We live in the light of his Paschal Mystery – the mystery of his death and resurrection. We are an Easter People ‘Alleluia’ is our song.” As Saint Philip Neri preached, let us strive for a renewal of the faith in our hearts.

Prayer: Abba Father, may the joy of the Holy Spirit always live in us. Amen.