Joy!

By Nancy Shuman -

One word we hear at this time of year is "joy."  It sings to us from carols, calls to us from cards, marches across banners in the mall. 

 I've heard it said that JOY is found by putting your focus and priorities in the proper order:

 J   esus  
O  thers 
Y  ourself  

 Is this "priority of focus" how St. Paul could write, in the face of persecutions, "I am filled with consolation, and despite my many afflictions my joy knows no bounds." (2 Corinthians 7:4)..?

 Is this "priority of focus" what enabled some of the Church's greatest saints to endure adversities with joy? 

 I pray that we may we all burst forth with "the joy of right priorities" at this holy time of year. 

 “Rejoice in the Lord always!  I say it again: rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)  

from The Cloistered Heart

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