‘Ask for joys that never end,’ writes Cardinal Tobin
In the latest edition of his Rejoice in the Lord newsletter, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R, reflects on The Solemnity of Pentecost and says, “We call on the third person of the Blessed Trinity to come into our hearts, bringing light for our darkness, comfort for our distress, healing for our soul’s sickness, warmth for our frozen hearts, and joys that will never end.
Why would we ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of unending joy? he asks.
“We believe that the Lord is risen, that he has conquered sin and death, and that we are truly free,” Cardinal Tobin writes. “We believe this, and yet we have our doubts. We hope in him, and yet we give in to sadness and despair. This is precisely why Christ sent us his Holy Spirit—to give us courage in our weakness, to sustain us in our fidelity to his Word, and, yes, to fill our hearts with joys that never end!”
For Christians, life’s difficulties are not eliminated,” he continues. “They are endured with confidence and transformed by the joyful hope of the Risen Christ. That’s why we dare to ask for joys that never end. We know that we need the help of God’s grace to face the pain and the weariness of daily life. We know that we need the Spirit’s sevenfold gifts (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord) to sustain us in life’s journey.”
In his latest newsletter, Cardinal Tobin also notes that 2021 marks the 500th Anniversary of the arrival of the Gospel in the Philippines. He encourages everyone, especially the Filipino faithful of the Archdiocese, to participate in the celebrations planned throughout the year to mark this significant milestone.
Rejoice in the Lord includes a message from Pope Francis about the “four coordinates” of ecclesial life: listening to the apostles’ teaching; safeguarding of mutual communion; the breaking of the bread; and prayer.
Cardinal Tobin also offers a prayer for the reader.
Cardinal Tobin’s newsletter is available in English and Spanish here.
