Make My Joy Complete

It seems that all human beings have, at least, this one thing in common:  we all want to be happy, to have joy.  We just pursue joy in different ways, and with various degrees of success.  What would make your joy complete?  

St. Paul has a rather unusual way of answering this question.  He says to the Philippians in Sunday’s second reading, “complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing” (2: 2).  Wow!  I wonder if they were ever able to complete his joy.  That’s a very idealistic request:  to be “of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.”  If they have the same mind, what does he want them to be thinking?  If they have the same heart, what does he want them to be feeling?  A few verses later he tells them:

“Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, who… emptied himself, taking the form of a slave… he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Because of this, God greatly exalted him… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2: 6-11). 

St. Paul calls the Church to be united in Christ, to have the same mind and heart of Christ so that we will humble ourselves in loving service of our neighbor.  He calls us to live and die with Christ so that God will raise us up with Christ to the place where we will enjoy his glory forever.  If we can be united in that way, then we will complete St. Paul’s joy.  

What an amazing perspective on joy!  St. Paul is in heaven now filled with joy.  But his joy will not complete until we are united in Christ, and until we all arrive in the kingdom of joy.  Could we possibly attain this degree of unity of mind and heart?  Well, we are on our way.  Here at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, we are uniting around our mission:  To proclaim the greatness of the Lord and accompany our neighbors to the Heart of Jesus.  All of our ministries are focusing on this common mission and pursuing it in their own unique ways.  

We also have 24 active Apostolates who are pursuing our parish mission.  Apostolates are groups of Catholics who gather under the leadership of people who are not on our parish ministry team (staff).  This weekend during our Food and Fellowship reception many of the Apostolates of our parish will be represented in Cabrini Hall.  I invite you to visit them and learn about their Apostolate.  If you are looking to get more involved in the life of our parish, one of these various Apostolates could be just right for you.  In our parish of 5300 families, it is easy to get lost in the crowd.  Weekend Mass is very important but try getting involved in something in between Sundays to nurture your faith in a small group.  

Our Blessed Mother is forming the Body of Christ here within her Immaculate Heart.  As we pursue our mission, growing united in mind and heart, we also make her joy complete.