Christianity & JoyChristianity & Joy

St. Mary and St. Mina Coptic Orthodox St. Mary and St. Mina Coptic Orthodox ChurchChurch

Youth MeetingYouth Meeting

Everyone wants JOYEveryone wants JOY

• There is one thing everyone wants, which is to There is one thing everyone wants, which is to have joy – to be happyhave joy – to be happy

• God created us for joy – and Christ came to God created us for joy – and Christ came to restore to us the joy we lostrestore to us the joy we lost

Wrong impressionWrong impression

• People outside Christianity have the wrong People outside Christianity have the wrong impression that Christianity has no joyimpression that Christianity has no joy

• Sometimes we ourselves convey this image – Sometimes we ourselves convey this image – when we feel that everything in Christianity is a when we feel that everything in Christianity is a burdenburden

Christianity as a revelation & Christianity as a revelation & proclamation of JOY proclamation of JOY

• When Christ was born, heaven rejoiced and the When Christ was born, heaven rejoiced and the angels came to the shepherds and saidangels came to the shepherds and said– ““Behold, I bring you good news of great Behold, I bring you good news of great JOYJOY””

• There is a natural attraction between God and There is a natural attraction between God and the human soul. The slightest contemplation of the human soul. The slightest contemplation of the divine brings us pleasure. We are created in the divine brings us pleasure. We are created in God’s imageGod’s image

Christianity & joyChristianity & joy

• St. Clement of Alexandria wrote,St. Clement of Alexandria wrote,– ““Our whole life is one festival. Persuaded that Our whole life is one festival. Persuaded that

God is with us, we cultivate our fields praising, God is with us, we cultivate our fields praising, and we sail the seas singing.”and we sail the seas singing.”

• Another Father saidAnother Father said– ““Christianity has been the proclamation of joy, Christianity has been the proclamation of joy,

of the only possible joy on earth.”of the only possible joy on earth.”

The resurrection & JOYThe resurrection & JOY

• The JOY of the resurrection is the fundamental The JOY of the resurrection is the fundamental characteristic of the Orthodox Christian worldviewcharacteristic of the Orthodox Christian worldview

• The resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith, The resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith, and the solid foundation of our faith and rejoicingand the solid foundation of our faith and rejoicing

The resurrection & JOYThe resurrection & JOY

• The deepest foundation of the hope and joy The deepest foundation of the hope and joy which characterize Orthodoxy and which which characterize Orthodoxy and which penetrate all its worship is the Resurrectionpenetrate all its worship is the Resurrection

• Look at the icons of the martyrs in the church – Look at the icons of the martyrs in the church – what do you notice?what do you notice?

The Eucharist and JOYThe Eucharist and JOY

• When the early Christians gathered for When the early Christians gathered for worship, it was for them a time of joy, and worship, it was for them a time of joy, and they experienced the living Lordthey experienced the living Lord

• We come to the church wounded and We come to the church wounded and tired, earthly and sinful. We come thirsty tired, earthly and sinful. We come thirsty and hungry. We return after being fed and hungry. We return after being fed with the food of eternal life, and after with the food of eternal life, and after tasting joy and peace in the Holy Spirittasting joy and peace in the Holy Spirit

Trials and JOYTrials and JOY

• Joy does not depend on outer circumstances.Joy does not depend on outer circumstances.

• The following is a true story of a 70-year-old The following is a true story of a 70-year-old Romanian priest who was imprisoned for his faith Romanian priest who was imprisoned for his faith during the communist yearsduring the communist years– He was thrown in prison along with his familyHe was thrown in prison along with his family– His son died in prisonHis son died in prison– His daughter was sentenced to 20 yearsHis daughter was sentenced to 20 years– His sons in law were also put in jailHis sons in law were also put in jail– His grand-children did not have anything to eatHis grand-children did not have anything to eat

• Yet, he was joyfulYet, he was joyful

Secret of JoySecret of Joy

• One day, he was asked, “How can you One day, he was asked, “How can you rejoice?”rejoice?”

• He replied “I fulfill the word from the Bible He replied “I fulfill the word from the Bible which says “rejoice with all those who rejoice”which says “rejoice with all those who rejoice”– I sit in jail, and I rejoice that many are freeI sit in jail, and I rejoice that many are free– I cannot go to church, but I rejoice will all those who I cannot go to church, but I rejoice will all those who

can gocan go– I cannot take communion, but I rejoice for all thoise I cannot take communion, but I rejoice for all thoise

who canwho can

• Here is a person who was full of love !!!Here is a person who was full of love !!!

Sources of JOYSources of JOY

• A Hindu once asked a Christian “What A Hindu once asked a Christian “What medicine do you put on your face to make it medicine do you put on your face to make it shine so?” The Christian answered smiling, “I shine so?” The Christian answered smiling, “I do not put anything on my face, I just have do not put anything on my face, I just have Jesus in my heart”.Jesus in my heart”.

• Through JesusThrough Jesus– Our sins have been forgivenOur sins have been forgiven– The burden of my guilt has been liftedThe burden of my guilt has been lifted– Joy enters our hearts, and we have peace of mindJoy enters our hearts, and we have peace of mind

More reasons to rejoiceMore reasons to rejoice

• Christ has made this earthly life an entry way that leads to Christ has made this earthly life an entry way that leads to heavenheaven

• Our greatest joys here are but the first fruits and foretaste of Our greatest joys here are but the first fruits and foretaste of eternal joyeternal joy

• We rejoice because our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the We rejoice because our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the worldworld

• We rejoice because Christ has given us victory over sin, We rejoice because Christ has given us victory over sin, suffering and deathsuffering and death

• We rejoice because Christ loves us and has given us We rejoice because Christ loves us and has given us everythingeverything

Repentance and JOYRepentance and JOY

• Sin is equivalent to having no joySin is equivalent to having no joy

• Through repentance, the joy of God’s salvation Through repentance, the joy of God’s salvation is restored to usis restored to us

• There is joy in heaven and on earth when we There is joy in heaven and on earth when we repentrepent

Prayer & joyPrayer & joy

• Here are some sayings of the Church Here are some sayings of the Church FathersFathers– ““When we are beginners, prayer is like a fire of When we are beginners, prayer is like a fire of

joy kindled in the heart”joy kindled in the heart”– ““If, while you are praying, you feel inwardly If, while you are praying, you feel inwardly

moved, a certain joy, at some word or other, moved, a certain joy, at some word or other, then dwell on it longer. It is a sign that our then dwell on it longer. It is a sign that our angel is praying with us”angel is praying with us”

• The saintly bishop Makarios and prayerThe saintly bishop Makarios and prayer