What Makes Your Heart “Leap For Joy”?

I was asked to preach last night at Mass, one of those times when you rely on the Holy Spirit and the grace of Orders to accomplish your task.

As you probably know, the Gospel was about the Visitation. The part I focused on was how John the Baptist “leaped for joy” when Mary greeted Elizabeth.

Leaped for joy, even before his birth.

John must have been one active man…. even before he was born, he was jumping around pointing out the presence of the Lord in our midst. Later in life, of course, he really made a scene with his camel’s hair shirt, his shouting and carrying on, confronting the king about his unlawful wife (can you imagine what would happen today if one of our bishops publicly told one of our politicians that the woman he was living with was not his wife, but his brother’s), eating honey and locusts, etc. Yes, John wasn’t afraid of making a scene if it had to do with preparing someone for the coming of the Lord or pointing out the Lord’s presence.

I asked the people last night this question, “What makes you leap for joy when it comes to your religion?”

We are to be a people of joy, are we not? We are to pick up where John left off by recognizing the Lord in our midst, pointing him out to others and leading them to him.

What makes your heart leap?

Here is the challenge I put forth last night, and I extend to you: Set aside a certain amount of time each day during which you make a conscious decision to open your heart to God’s presence. Then wait. Wait for as long as it will take… God alone knows how long. Someday, though, if you keep doing this, your heart will leap; there will be a flutter inside you; there will be a fleeting flush of joy that you will experience.

Your heart will leap for joy in the presence of the Lord.

Take up the challenge and see for yourselves.