Holy Father Pope Francis while addressing the faithful gathered at Casa Santa Marta chapel exhorted the Christians to stay joyous all the time. His Holiness Pope Francis highlighted that “it is joy that Christians breathe” and said that Christians express themselves joyfully. Referring to the passage from the Gospel of Mark, the Pontiff re-proposed the theme of being men and women bearing joy. Pointing out to the rich young man in the gospel, who sadly walks away from Jesus because he cannot renounce his possessions, the Pope said that Christians cannot be like that.
As reported by Vatican radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “Joy cannot be purchased or forced. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The one who puts joy in our hearts is the Holy Spirit. Joy does not mean living from laugh to laugh. No, it’s not that. Joy is not entertainment. No, it’s not that. It is something else. Christian joy is peace, peace that is deeply rooted, peace in the heart, the peace that only God can give. This is Christian joy. It is not easy to foster this joy.”
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his homily by lamenting the fact that today’s culture contents itself with fragments of pleasure that never satisfy completely. The Pontiff reminded that “The young man in the Gospel was afraid that if he gave up his wealth he would not be happy. Joy, consolation: this is our breath as Christians.”
