FOR THE SAKE OF THE JOY WHICH LAY AHEAD OF HIM

"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: for the sake of the joy which lay ahead of him, he endured the cross, disregarding the shame of it, and has taken his seat at the right of God's throne" (Hebrews 12:2).

What is the joy that lay ahead of Jesus? It is the joy of completing his task well, fulfilling the will if his Father, and happily rejoining the Father. Having endured the most ignominious ill-treatment, and having remained steadfast and faithful through this painful passion, Jesus rejoiced: "It is finished!" and bowed his head and surrendered his spirit in death (John 19:30).

He had consummated his mission without wavering or faltering through all the opposition, betrayal, rejection, and various persecution. That is what filled him with joy. This joy was driving him on, bolstering him, galvanizing and strengthening him through the most difficult moments of the passion.

That joy was inside him all the time, even when he appeared defeated. He shares that joy, thereby revealing it to us, when he intimates it to the good thief: "Truly, truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43). Jesus knew, beyond all reasonable doubt that at the end of his suffering was Paradise.

He knew this because he trusted his Father. He knew that, even if his Father had seen it to be necessary for Jesus to suffer this much, God would not go back on his word. God had prepared this glory for him from the beginning and Jesus was determined not to allow any earthily hardship, or human cruelty and evil, or his own human frailty to prevent him from attaining this glory.

He had prayed earnestly before the passion: "Now, Father, glorify me with that glory I had with you before ever the world existed." (John 17:5).

By suffering and dying for us Jesus secured this glory for us too. No matter what blows we receive from this imperfect world, the cruelty and evil intentions of our persecutors, and our own weakness and vulnerability, we must remain faithful to the Father's will, like Jesus did.

We must pray always like him when we find it most difficult: "'Father,' he said, 'if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine.'" (Luke 22:42). That is how Christians, followers of Jesus, must face trials and tribulations, following the example of Christ, preferring the will of a God to our own will.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews encourages us: "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: for the sake of the joy which lay ahead of him, he endured the cross, disregarding the shame of it, and has taken his seat at the right of God's throne" (Hebrews 12:2).

Dear sisters and brothers, for the sake of the joy which lies ahead of us, let us not conform to the standards of this world, to the mentality of this time, to the values of society, to the hardships of our personal predicament; but let us remain resolute in doing God's will, steadfast in prayer, unwavering in faith and always rejoicing in the love of Jesus Christ! Amen.