Jesus is Our Lady’s Joy. She is the Cause of Our Joy. When she said “yes” to the Archangel Gabriel, Joy Incarnate entered the world and dried the tears of the human race caught in darkness. Through her Light came into the world. St. Philip Neri said, “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” Our Lady chose joy in saying “yes” to God. In allowing Him to take on human nature in her womb, in allowing Him to unite Himself to her in a new and intimate way, she received unending joy. Joy is free for the choosing if we let Our Lord come into our lives and unite us to Himself in the ways He desires to do so. The Holy Eucharist and the other sacraments are the first and foremost way in which He does this. What more intimate way to draw near to Jesus than to receive Him into one’s own body and soul in Holy Communion? Choose Jesus, and one chooses joy.
