Cooperating with Joy – Reflection on John 15:9-11
Love’s journey can be a crooked line if we are not exposed to love’s depth and breadth in our youth. It can be hard to understand how to embrace love as a Christian’s primary virtue until we fall in love with open arms. You have likely experienced the wall in yourself or others, preventing love’s joyfulness. Such walls include being stubborn, macho, and selfish, to name a few. It can be challenging and complex to learn that being vulnerable, opening up to others, and practicing virtues stand in the way of complete surrender. Yielding and inviting joy is the one thing that enables us to be like Jesus, fully human and fully divine. We can testify to our transformation by letting Christ’s unconditional love into our hearts and accepting love’s sometimes aggressive correcting and taming. As just a few positives, we can learn to be welcoming, appreciative, and understanding; if we do so, we will discover that we are cooperating with joy.
Our Lord Jesus Christ by James Tissot, image of the painting at full resolution.
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website
Additional Eastertide Reflections
John 15:9-11 – Scripture*
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on John 15:9-11 Reflection – Cooperating with Joy.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible John 15 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image use on the web at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Cooperating with Joy
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.