Is It Okay to Still Be Joyful Right Now?
Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:
share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.
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This will be my first Word for the Week entry without a description of my experience of Mass. Although there were still public Masses in the Diocese of Phoenix last weekend, wisdom dictated a self-quarantine. The West Coast was my recent tour stop, and my pastor verified my dispensation to stay home. Good thing the Word of the Lord is still alive: even when I reflect on the Mass readings as I lay belly-down with my elbows propped up on my carpeted bedroom floor.
The USCCB website provided all of the scripture that we would normally have heard at Mass. As I read through the Old Testament, the Psalm, an Epistle and the Gospel, the same, routine prayer was on my heart: “What do you want to speak to me, Lord?”
The words “spirit and truth” lingered. As I continued to carry these words in my heart this week, I asked the Lord, “What do you want me to do about this word, Lord?” Again and again, I have felt inspired to allow my joy to shine, and also to be truthful about our family’s.
My joy has been in huge supply this week. Optimism doesn't quite describe my mood. It’s more like a deep conviction that the Lord has prepared us for this moment and that He will continue the good work He began in us. I felt this adrenaline so I used it as fuel to draft a tremendous amount of writing, to encourage the family members under my roof, and to reach out virtually to friends and family. I got the sense that my joyfulness needs to hold strong in the face of some critical challenges on a personal level.
The truth is that my husband and I just lost our primary source of income. So when a neighbor texted to ask if we needed anything, I replied that we could use a pack of toilet paper. When another friend posted on Facebook that she wanted to make a donation to families in need, I admitted that we are facing a crucial need. The crossroads of spirit and truth is a pretty thrilling spot.
The Biblical character of Ruth evokes strong images of that same intersection. When Ruth faced a moment of great need, she was both spirited (see her adamant declaration to Naomi, “Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God”) and also very honest about her needs (see how she slept at the feet of Boaz when she needed a husband).
How might the Lord be calling you to live in both spirit and truth today? Maybe your interior life could use a boost of hope if you’ve been dwelling only on facts and science. Or maybe you need the courage to accept the hard truth of what is happening to many others, even if you’re personally at peace right now. Or maybe, like Ruth, it’s time to speak up spiritedly and honestly.
Whatever your disposition today, I’ll end with some encouragement from the Gospel of John 16:13: “But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.”
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P.S. Please enjoy this image of toilet paper. Our neighbors dropped off this gift yesterday morning. They included a generous gift card to Walmart, with a note that read, “Hope this helps with the down time!”
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