Thanks. I never thought to pray for joy. I have never had much of it. Oh God has been good to me. Life has been pretty good, but joy never seemed to part of my makeup. I'm old now but maybe with prayer I can go out smiling. Bless you Fr. Mike. I pray for you every day.
Father Mike, your conversation with the woman on the phone describes me. What gives me joy is everything she mentioned to you. I know what heaven will be like and I know what God's LOVE is. There is no comparison to any joy on earth I have experienced.
For me....the greatest joy has always been Christmas. The spirit of what took place over 2000 years ago....and the peace that descends over the whole world that night. God incarnate.....became one of us.... The King of all.....born in a lowly stable. The angel announces the Good News to poor Sheppard's. There are many joys we will experience throughout our lives... but no greater joy than this....when God came to dwell among us and save us from our sins to be reunited with Him once again. That is Divine Joy. Peace on earth to men of goodwill ❤❤❤ Merry Christmas to all and may the peace and joy of the Baby Jesus fill your hearts........ Thank you Father for taking care of your sheep....God Bless you. ❤
Oh, how I have prayed for JOY! Thank you! I just attended a retreat with Fr. Blount, and was blessed to be one of three gift bearers during mass. we presented the gifts, and waited for each other and unexpectedly he blessed us breathing onto us the word JOY! It’s been a long year for me on a joy journey, and I’m praising God for finding it ! JOY TO THE WORLD! Let ALL creation SING!
Bless you, Father Mike, for yet another enlightening sermon. You make the gospel, the Lord's plan for us, come alive. I am having trouble finding joy in my life right now. I so need to hear this. Many blessings this advent season.
Father Mike, a wonderful homily, the part where your friend. Jackie was able to talk with you about her life,no Joy, we can have people all around us and still be alone, especially when loved one has passed away……I love you and your message today, Peace and Joy in Christ….❤
When we watch the news it's all bad news. But when we read the Bible it's all GOOD NEWS! Get rid of your TV. Stop watching news. Let's all have more Joy in our lives! Amen!
Thank you Father for this reminder to pray for JOY. I think of all that God has given me and feel very blessed yet the devil can get in my head to give me negative thoughts. I usually pray to combat the thoughts but will add asking for joy as part of that prayer. Thanks again Father. 🙏❤️🔥🕊️
Father Mike , im in a position now that God is in control. I must rejoice in the Lord always. Beautiful way to think please pray for me to surrender to the Lord everything. Please Lord help me to surrender everything every moment. I have no control. 🙏🙏
Yes, we remember how King Herod tried to end the life of Jesus before it had really begun. As Christians we may experience the same demonic activity at work in our own lives as we seek to grow up with Jesus. This has been a difficult weekend for me but I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when I read in Zephaniah 3:15 "thou shalt not see evil anymore." I believe that and it gives me cause to rejoice. My favorite color is pink🤗 That made me smile too😁
Thank you, Fr. Mike. I really needed to hear that we must pray for joy. My family has a problem with our younger daughter, who has lost her way. We need joy in our life. Thank you again.
This is such a great homily. I am especially thankful for you calling out the role of the Kerygma in reminding us of why we have joy day to day. Thank you! Happy Guadate Sunday!!❤🙏
My Christmas petition is this: may the love of Christ be perfected within me so that I may be properly dressed with love at the wedding banquet and be consumed with everlasting joy. Amen
God bless you Fr. Mike and to all our priest doing the Lord’s work, which is not easy. Looking at the congregants at his church, it appears as if they are not paying much attention. I saw some people sleeping and not engaged in his homily. I hope they appreciate him.
Thank you Fr Mike for your homily this morning. It is very thought provoking and reflective on my times of sadness and loneliness at the loss of my husband of 48 years on Dec. 21, 2018. And, the JOY of my 48 years of love and life with him 🙏🏻🕊✝️🕊🙏🏻
Joyous Christmas Message from Pope Benedict XVI: "With the angel’s greeting to Mary - “be joyful” - the New Testament begins. We could say that the first word of the New Testament is “be joyful,” “be happy.” This is the true meaning of Christmas: God is near us, so near that He became a child. Joy is the true gift of Christmas, not the expensive gifts that call for time and money. We can communicate this joy simply: with a smile, a kind gesture, a little help, forgiveness. And the joy we give will certainly come back to us. Let us pray that this presence of the liberating joy of God shines forth in our lives."
"The reason why the soul not only travels securely when in obscurity, but also makes greater progress, is this: In general the soul makes greater progress in the spiritual life when it least thinks so, yea, when it rather imagines that it is losing everything ...There is another reason also why the soul has traveled safely in this obscurity; it has suffered: for the way of suffering is safer, and also more profitable, than that of rejoicing and of action. In suffering God gives strength, but in action and in joy the soul does but show its own weakness and imperfections. And in suffering, the soul practices and acquires virtue, and becomes pure, wiser, and more cautious." -St. John of the Cross, p.149 dark night of the soul. As Christians we ought to not walk around gloomy, frowning, angry etc but in the midst of our long suffering we rejoice in that one day our suffering will turn into everlasting joy at the resurrection. Amen
Thank you, Fr. Michael
"It is not joy that makes us grateful.
It is gratitude that makes us joyful"
Thanks. I never thought to pray for joy. I have never had much of it. Oh God has been good to me. Life has been pretty good, but joy never seemed to part of my makeup. I'm old now but maybe with prayer I can go out smiling. Bless you Fr. Mike. I pray for you every day.
Father Mike, your conversation with the woman on the phone describes me. What gives me joy is everything she mentioned to you. I know what heaven will be like and I know what God's LOVE is. There is no comparison to any joy on earth I have experienced.
Always,always feeding your lambs, thank Fr Mike & May God bless you forever🙏🏻📿
For me....the greatest joy has always been Christmas.
The spirit of what took place over 2000 years ago....and the peace that descends over the whole world that night.
God incarnate.....became one of us....
The King of all.....born in a lowly stable.
The angel announces the Good News to poor Sheppard's.
There are many joys we will experience throughout our lives...
but no greater joy than this....when God came to dwell among us and save us from our sins to be reunited with Him once again.
That is Divine Joy.
Peace on earth to men of goodwill ❤❤❤
Merry Christmas to all and may the peace and joy of the Baby Jesus fill your hearts........
Thank you Father for taking care of your sheep....God Bless you. ❤
Oh, how I have prayed for JOY! Thank you!
I just attended a retreat with Fr. Blount, and was blessed to be one of three gift bearers during mass. we presented the gifts, and waited for each other and unexpectedly he blessed us breathing onto us the word JOY!
It’s been a long year for me on a joy journey, and I’m praising God for finding it ! JOY TO THE WORLD! Let ALL creation SING!
I needed it too. I so often forget the enemy is always wanting to steal our joy.
I do as well! Merry Christmas!
Beautiful homily Father Mike God bless you and watch over
Bless you, Father Mike, for yet another enlightening sermon. You make the gospel, the Lord's plan for us, come alive. I am having trouble finding joy in my life right now. I so need to hear this. Many blessings this advent season.
God bless you, father
Beautiful sermon Father. Thankyou
thanks for being a hyprocrite
Joy to the earth for He is coming
Thank You Rev. Mike O'Connor for another excellent sermon during this Advent Season. God's Blessings Always! ✝
Father Mike, a wonderful homily, the part where your friend. Jackie was able to talk with you about her life,no Joy, we can have people all around us and still be alone, especially when loved one has passed away……I love you and your message today, Peace and Joy in Christ….❤
Thank you Fr. Mike, great word. Love your vestments, beautiful colors for Adventure
Advent. (Auto type)
Thank you Fr. Mike for this sermon. I think I lack joy in my daily life and struggles.
Thank you Father for reminding me to be joyful with the coming of Christmas, I have been feeling a little down lately, God Bless 🙂
When we watch the news it's all bad news. But when we read the Bible it's all GOOD NEWS!
Get rid of your TV. Stop watching news. Let's all have more Joy in our lives! Amen!
@@Steven-rp8zo Amen 🙏😇
Amen! Thank you Father.
Thank you Father for this reminder to pray for JOY. I think of all that God has given me and feel very blessed yet the devil can get in my head to give me negative thoughts. I usually pray to combat the thoughts but will add asking for joy as part of that prayer. Thanks again Father. 🙏❤️🔥🕊️
I can relate to your comment! I feel like I'm failing. Perhaps I need to pray for Joy also. At any rate, Merry Christmas!
@@VeniVidiVici456Yes! Merry, joyful Christmas to you.
Amen!🙏
Joy to the world, let earth receive her King! 🙏
I needed to hear this 🙏🏻
I need to find that JOY with myself and the Lord 🙏🏻🙏🏻💕
Thank You Fr.Mike! Exactly what I needed to hear today. 🙏 Praying for Joy 🙏
God Bless & Protect You Fr. Mike 🙏
Thank you father. I will pray for joy from the Lord coming
Father Mike , im in a position now that God is in control. I must rejoice in the Lord always. Beautiful way to think please pray for me to surrender to the Lord everything. Please Lord help me to surrender everything every moment. I have no control. 🙏🙏
Thank you, God bless you and your ministry.
Thank you, Father, for this beautiful homily. Our world needs more joy. Only the kind of joy that the Hol😂Spirit can give us.
Yes, we remember how King Herod tried to end the life of Jesus before it had really begun. As Christians we may experience the same demonic activity at work in our own lives as we seek to grow up with Jesus. This has been a difficult weekend for me but I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when I read in Zephaniah 3:15 "thou shalt not see evil anymore." I believe that and it gives me cause to rejoice. My favorite color is pink🤗 That made me smile too😁
@@KTS522 😇
Thanks, I needed that.
Father Mike, beautiful homily like always. MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR. 🙏‼️🥰‼️🕊️‼️
Such a lovely homily Fr, thank you 🙏🏻 I also needed a reminder to be joyful! 🤗❤️
Beautiful homily, Father! Thank you!!❤
Thank you, Fr. Mike. I really needed to hear that we must pray for joy. My family has a problem with our younger daughter, who has lost her way. We need joy in our life. Thank you again.
Another Marvellous Word Of God The Joy of The Holy Spirit. Rejoice, Spread The Good News.
Amen!
Thank you Fr.Mike for your Compassion and Support
Lord have Mercy on Jackie and all those without joy in their lives ✝️💕
Great sermon father mike! Blessed my wife and i! Merry 🎄 christmas!
Thanks!
This is such a great homily. I am especially thankful for you calling out the role of the Kerygma in reminding us of why we have joy day to day. Thank you! Happy Guadate Sunday!!❤🙏
My Christmas petition is this: may the love of Christ be perfected within me so that I may be properly dressed with love at the wedding banquet and be consumed with everlasting joy. Amen
Amen ✨🙏✨🥰✌️☦️🛐🥰
Thank you , Father !!! 🙏✨✌️🥰
God bless you Fr. Mike and to all our priest doing the Lord’s work, which is not easy. Looking at the congregants at his church, it appears as if they are not paying much attention. I saw some people sleeping and not engaged in his homily. I hope they appreciate him.
Thank you Fr Mike for your homily this morning. It is very thought provoking and reflective on my times of sadness and loneliness at the loss of my husband of 48 years on Dec. 21, 2018. And, the JOY of my 48 years of love and life with him 🙏🏻🕊✝️🕊🙏🏻
God loves you! Your husband is more near to you than you could believe! Have a nice day!
He is my JOY!
🙏🙏🙏🌟
Joyous Christmas Message from Pope Benedict XVI: "With the angel’s greeting to Mary - “be joyful” - the New Testament begins. We could say that the first word of the New Testament is “be joyful,” “be happy.” This is the true meaning of Christmas: God is near us, so near that He became a child. Joy is the true gift of Christmas, not the expensive gifts that call for time and money. We can communicate this joy simply: with a smile, a kind gesture, a little help, forgiveness. And the joy we give will certainly come back to us. Let us pray that this presence of the liberating joy of God shines forth in our lives."
"The reason why the soul not only travels securely when in obscurity, but also makes greater progress, is this: In general the soul makes greater progress in the spiritual life when it least thinks so, yea, when it rather imagines that it is losing everything ...There is another reason also why the soul has traveled safely in this obscurity; it has suffered: for the way of suffering is safer, and also more profitable, than that of rejoicing and of action. In suffering God gives strength, but in action and in joy the soul does but show its own weakness and imperfections. And in suffering, the soul practices and acquires virtue, and becomes pure, wiser, and more cautious." -St. John of the Cross, p.149 dark night of the soul.
As Christians we ought to not walk around gloomy, frowning, angry etc but in the midst of our long suffering we rejoice in that one day our suffering will turn into everlasting joy at the resurrection. Amen
👍
Satan will steal your joy, re engineer it and offer it back as a "gift"