REAL JOY

Woke up with a really bad migraine. Had such great temptation to skip mass ...... hoping that my bad headache could be an excuse. Somehow, did not feel good about making such excuses. Well, let's see what happens after popping 2 tablets of Panadeine. Well, it got better within 10 minutes. So no more excuses not to attend mass.

Drove to church slightly late but still manage to find my favourite parking lot.

Regretted that I did not have a tape recorder to record Fr John Paul's sermon. I thought it was real good and did not regret attending mass as I drove out of Church later.

Reading 1Is 8:23—9:3

First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulunand the land of Naphtali;but in the end he has glorified the seaward road,the land west of the Jordan,the District of the Gentiles.Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;upon those who dwelt in the land of glooma light has shone.You have brought them abundant joyand great rejoicing,as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,as people make merry when dividing spoils.For the yoke that burdened them,the pole on their shoulder,and the rod of their taskmasteryou have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

One statement made by Fr JP really made me sit up. It was just a simple remark but something that most of us would not pay attention to or choose to ignore or perhaps find it hard to practice and live it out.

Try joy is found in the person of Christ, our Lord. If we have always been looking out for earthly joys and comfort, then we face the danger of losing that true joy that Jesus wants to give it to us.

Upon further reflection, seeking earthly joy and comfort has always been a part of our lives. Very often, it is in this that we are often hurt, disappointmented and filled with anger, resentment and jealousies. But if we truly understand what God's joy is all about, perhaps, we could have been more peaceful, composed, filled with gratitude.

Reading II1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,that all of you agree in what you say,and that there be no divisions among you,but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.I mean that each of you is saying,“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”Is Christ divided?Was Paul crucified for you?Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

The love and joy of Christ is also often found in the cross itself. It is through sufferings that we find joy and the real meaning of joy. Christ was not divided. His love was for everyone. So why do we look to the earthly or material things or the people around us for joy? As humans, people are only gonna to disappoint us, hurt us and make us feel rejected. Not until we can understand the true meaning of God's love, will we be able to find the true joy that Christ wants to share with us.

DETACHMENT - this is what I am gonna try to practice and live it out daily. Detachment not in the sense of ignoring and adopt a "can't be bothered attitude" towards the things and people around us - moving away from everyone and all responsibilities BUT instead one that calls for us to give unconditionally and not expecting anything in return and also most importantly to be able to love deeply and also to be able to let go and surrender all our failings, disappointments, hurts and sadness to God.

It is really tough but I will try ............