It must have been a joyful time for the child Jesus to be in the presence of the great teachers and Rabies of the temple when He was "about His Father's business. It must have been equally joyful when His parents, Mary and Joseph found Him, collard Him and took Him home. Do you think they didn't "collar" Him? Well, if they did...I'll bet that they did it with joy as most parents might.
Jesus showed His joy when he turned water into wine at the wedding at Cannon. His mother did not force Him to do so or hit Him over the head with an empty wine flagon. No, for a wedding is a joyous occasion and Jesus wanted to be there and share the gift of joy with His family and friends.
There must have been great joy when Lazarus was raised from the dead. There must have been joy when Jesus shared the bread and wine with His companions at the last supper. You would not think so since He had full knowledge of what was to come, but I believe there was joy in the acceptance of His father's will. As with a mother who is in labor accepts the pain of labor...she also knows the pains that will prevail before the joy of birth.
If you can equate human emotions to the resurrection and the ascension...Jesus must have had the wonderful experience of joy and glorification of the uncorrupted Risen Christ.
We, His people, can and do feel and share a small essence of joy, but we are not yet ready for the full measure of the joy that is to come, not in this life, but in the presence of the Lord. We also feel to some minute degree, the pain and anguish that Christ felt when nailed and dying on the cross as our earthly lives are not free of sickness, pain or suffering...some more than others. It must have been a joy that the one of the robber/thieves on another cross, that day, repented his sins, and Jesus assured him that that day he would see his Father in heaven.
There are all kinds of joys, big small, some so apparently insignificant that you or I would hardly notice such a fleeting passing moment. Everything is not big or super sized. You have heard the expression, "Little things mean a lot," and that "Good things come in small packages."
So it is.
The point is: Look for things and people to be joyful for. You will find joy if you seek it out. Spread the joy that you are given as it is a gift to be shared. Share the joy and you will be sharing Christ's love as well.
I could go on, but you get the message. Don't you?
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