joy
In this week’s reading from the Gospel According to John 15:9–17 (NABRE), Jesus makes an unusual promise of joy to those who follow his commandments. In New Testament language, love and peace are much more common positive outcomes of following Jesus.
What is the meaning of joy in the Christian sense? How do you think it is that joy might differ from happiness? Do you think that joy is something Jesus’ first disciples would have understood and wanted? Is joy something that you value highly in the context of your spiritual life?
The Greek word translated as joy is χαρά (chara) and has a fairly straightforward meaning of “delight.” What makes this word chara interesting is that it shares a common root with the word χάρις (charis), which is the Greek word for grace. What this connection suggests is that in the New Testament there is a strong connection between joy and grace. That connection between these two concepts is lost when the passage from the Gospel According to John is translated to English.
What do you think constitutes grace? In what ways do you think that the concept of joy and grace are brought together in Jesus Christ? How might joy and grace be connected in your own spiritual life?
you also may like our study of the Gospel According to John
The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth, a 25-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, examines the Fourth Gospel’s view of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, with special emphasis on the institution of the sacraments of the Church as the means by which Christians are purified and made holy. This recently revised study includes maps and additional commentary, and takes a closer look at the way in which Jesus relates to individual men and women. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.
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