40 REASONS TO REJOICE IN THE LORD

                          AND TO HAVE FAITH IN OUR GOD

 1. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your forbearance (patience)be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, in prayer and in confidence, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — (Philippians 4:4–6)

 

2. Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear!

Here is your God, with divine reward he comes to save you.

Isaiah 35:4

 3. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and rough places a plain. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.  Isaiah 40:4-5

4. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom.  Isaiah 40:11

5. Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Isaiah 40: 28-29

6. Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

 7. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:19

8. I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.  Isaiah 43:25

9. I will not forget you. See I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands. You are continually before me. Isaiah 49:15b-16

10. The Lord helps me; . . . and I know I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near.  Isaiah 50:7

11. I am he who comforts you; then why are you afraid?  Isaiah 51:12

12. Your Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:19b

13. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you . . . you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid . . .for I am with you, says the Lord.  Jeremiah 1:5,7b-8

14. And you shall be my people, and I will be your God. Jeremiah 30:22

15. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13b

16. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

17. The Beatitudes Matthew 5: 3-10

18. I have come to call not the righteous but sinners, Matthew 9:13

19. Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

20. For God all things are possible. Mark 10:27b

21. Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. Mark 16:15

22. I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

23. Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God? John 11:40

24. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God. Romans 8:28

25. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

26. I will be your father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:18

27. I press on because Christ Jesus has made me his own; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly of God.  Philippians 3:12b-14

28. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned  . . . and the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:8-9

29. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..  Colossians 3:15-17

30. The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. Hebrews 13:6

31. Therefore, prepare your minds for action, discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you. 1Peter 1:13

32. Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1John 3:18

33 God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.  1John 4:16b

34. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who works wonders. Psalm 77:14-15

35. There is no Holy One like the Lord; there is no other god like our God. 1Samuel 2:2

36. In God alone is my soul at rest; my help comes from him. He is my rock, my stronghold, my fortress: I stand firm.  Psalm 62:2-3

37.  Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the God who saves us. Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving. Today listen to the voice of the Lord. Psalm 95:1-2, 7b.

38. I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal.  Psalm 116:1

39. I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.  Psalm116:9

40. Today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD is your strength!”  Nehemiah, 8:10

 

 

 

Gaudete Sunday the Challenge of Rejoicing Always!

This Sunday is a joyful reminder that our salvation is near.

This weekend we celebrate Gaudete Sunday which is so named because “Rejoice” is the first word in the entrance antiphon for today's Mass which is taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians (4:4, 5):

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.”
  ·        Let your patience be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand;

 ·        have no anxiety about anything,

 ·        In all things, in prayer and in confidence, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God.

 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

— (Philippians 4:4–6)

 

We must again remember Paul's circumstances--he was imprisoned and facing possible execution. Paul suffered much more than imprisonment, as he tells us: "Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked . . . I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked" 2 Corinthians 11

 Paul was "sorrowful, yet ALWAYS rejoicing"--in the Lord!--"poor, having nothing, yet possessing everything"--life in Christ!

2 Corinthians 6:10).

 Even St. Paul, like you and me, had difficulty living the spiritual life Jesus called him to:

“We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh . . . I do not understand my own actions. I find it to be a reality that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand!

St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (7:14,21)

The great challenge you and I face is:

HOW DO I LIVE BY PAUL’S TEACHING EVERY DAY

AND EVERY MOMENT OF MY LIFE?

 Or maybe the first questions should be is:

·        Why should I want to live a life of “always rejoicing?”

·        Why is “always Rejoicing in the Lord” that important to me – or even necessary?

·        What’s really at stake?

From the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke tells us:

 “We must endure many trials before entering God’s kingdom.” (Acts 14:21)

If that’s the case – and many of us already know it is because of our own personal experiences, then we will certainly understand the importance of rejoicing in God’s favor.

“Today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD is your strength!”  Nehemiah, 8:10

 Jesus invites us to:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

 

 Also in the Bible we will find this proclamation of God’s caring support:

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.” Hebrews 13:6

 

When we return to our homes, our schools – our work place – and our families . . .

How will we, how can we, Rejoice in the Lord always?

How will we, how can we, go about our life having no anxiety or fear about anything?

How do we overcome the realities of the stress and pressures present in the classroom, or the office, or the factory, in the community, and even in our own families?

How will we handle the everyday occurrences of peer pressure, bullying, and unjust demands made on us by others, financial shortages, the lack of good health, or even the lack of well paying employment?

How do we “always” rejoice when faced with the ugliness of abuse or addictions?

HOW DO WE DO IT? ST. PAUL WRITES:

I press on because Christ Jesus has made me his own; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly of God.  Philippians 3:12b-14

 

HERE IS THE KEY!

Last Saturday, just before the start of the MSU and Ohio State football game, there was a televised interview with some of the MSU players.  One of the players said how important is the discipline to always do the “running and lifting weights and other things that are not necessarily fun to do” – in order to prepare for each game!

The preparing for and winning a football game – and eventually fulfilling the dream of going to the Rose Bowl – is no different than winning at “rejoicing in the Lord at all times”  - both demand patience, persistence, discipline and sacrifice.

What are the spiritual exercises that will prepare us for the coming of Christ in our lives, and take us to gaining the goal of being eternally present with God in his kingdom?

I have published on this blog 40 spiritual exercises that will help and strengthen our ability to ““Rejoice in the Lord always!”

 Here are 3 of them”

 The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. Hebrews 13:6

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the GRACE that Jesus Christ will bring you. 1Peter 1:13

FOR GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Mark 10:27b

 “To believe in Christ is to believe in a power of love that is more enduring than anything that is in the world. … We are in touch with a God who is greater than and more powerful than anything that is in the world.”

Father Robert Barron, commenting on the horrific events of Newtown, Connecticut.

 Let us pray:

 We glorify you Lord because you have rescued us from our fears and worries; you will not let the enemy of stress, suffering , and failure overpower us.

 

Be ever with us Lord, as we journey forward, fill our hearts with joy and keep our lives free from the evil that within us and that surrounds us until we see you in your kingdom.  Amen.