"Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God," said St Teresa of Avila. "God alone suffices".
I tried it; the other day. I had a physical ache that kept me from regular activity and even sleep. I decided I can have joy in the world in spite of suffering. All it takes is possessing God. That alone will suffice. In God alone is our soul at rest.
It worked. Not only did joy return to me, but the pain seemed to vanish. If we can live with a sense that Jesus is in us, imagine how powerful that makes us? Especially when temptation comes along?
To possess the Spirit of God we must be free of anger, jealousy or unforgiveness. To possess the Spirit of Jesus we must build on the sense that we are Christian, that Christ is in us, and that when we move and act, it is Christ moving in us?
Take a moment to think of demon possession. What is that existence like? Now think of the opposite, being possessed by Jesus. Now follow through and get a picture of how possessing Jesus, as St Teresa put it, would suffice to bring us joy and the power to face life's challenges
Galatians 2:20 says "Christ lives in me". We must walk as He walked; we must want to have Christ's life in us. The heart of Christianity is to become like Jesus. When He shares our load, especially suffering and pain, it becomes lighter. Joy is possible even there.
In Breaking into Joy Anne Costa says: "Joy does not depend upon our circumstances. It comes from God and cannot be reduced by suffering or hardship. Our circumstances may affect our ability to see the joy God is offering to us. But that's exactly where Breaking into Joy comes in."
"The present moment is the best place to start. And this is possible for each of us, thanks to the Holy Spirit who dwells in us," Hallie Riedel says of Costa's book.
About suffering, Costa says, "How we choose to think about things is always within our control." Take the problem of hatred and holding grudges.
Imagine the poor character in the following scene: "I can't go to the Post Office; he might be there, I can't go to the mall; she might be there. I can't walk down Main Street 'cause it goes right by his house. I'll have to stop going for coffee 'cause she goes there most mornings."
Who is in control of this life? In a chapter dealing with forgiveness as a fountainhead of joy Costa ends with: "Isn't it time to forgive?" Joy is only possible with the freedom forgiveness brings.
Riedel says, "In the end, pursuing joy is a personal decision. Joy doesn't strike like a lightning bolt; it deepens with time and practice."
And joy comes naturally to the Christian. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, along with Love, Peace, Patience, Goodnessand Long-Suffering, which is also on that list.
Holy Spirit Awaken within us the ability to see something of the possibilities You see for us as followers of Jesus. Deepen our desire to nurture the gifts you have planted in our hearts. Help us to pursue with eagerness and joy the path of holiness and service to which we have been called. (From the opening prayers of a retreat on the Gifts of the Spirit)
