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TODAY’S WORD…

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Rejoice in the Lord always.

I will say it again: rejoice!

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Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

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– Philippians 4:4-5 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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In order to have joy

it does not matter if we are living in difficult conditions.

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The kind of profound joy that fills the soul with peace

does not derive from the satisfaction of physical or material needs

but from faithfulness to God and His commandments

by embracing the Cross.

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QUOTE…

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"For a Christian, joy is a treasure.

Only by offending God do we lose it,

because sin is the fruit of selfishness,

and selfishness is the root of sadness.

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Even then, a bit of joy survives under the debris of our soul

– the knowledge that neither God nor His (Christ’s) Mother forgets us.

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If we repent,

if an act of sorrow springs from our heart,

if we purify ourselves in the holy sacrament of penance,

God comes out to meet and forgive us.

Then there can be no sadness whatsoever"

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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"The true worth of what a Christian does

is determined by the active presence of God’s grace in him and his deeds.

In a Christian’s heart, therefore, peace is inseparable from joy […].

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When the joy that is in a Christian heart is poured out on others,

it gives them hope and optimism;

it spurs them to be generous in their daily toil

and infects the entire society.

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My children, only if you have in you this divine grace which is joy and peace,

will you be able to do anything useful for others"

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– Pope John Paul II

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PRAYER…

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Through Your amazing gift of faith,

my soul rejoices in You, my God.

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By the power of Your Holy Spirit,

I acknowledge and believe and love You, O God.

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Through Your grace, which I cling to,

I know that You love me beyond my imagination,

and that fills me with awe and great joy, my Lord.

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Thank You, Lord God.

I love You, Lord God.

Forgive me, Lord God.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Thank You for the joy that only You bring, O Lord!.

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