Cardinal Tobin: Jesus Christ is the source of all joy

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, 

 A personal encounter with Jesus Christ is the source of all Christian joy. But the road to joy isn’t easy. It requires us to face ourselves and our shortcomings, and to overcome many obstacles along the way. 

 Sorrow and disappointment are a fact of life. Our emotional, physical and even spiritual “hurts” cannot be buried or ignored. They must be suffered. It is only by way of the cross — by sharing in the passion and death of our Redeemer — that we can participate in resurrection joy. 

 In his first Sunday homily at the beginning of his pontificate (see below), Pope Leo XIV admonishes us to confront the obstacles we face without sugar-coating them, but he assures us that joy is always available to us because of the endless mercy of God. “This is the missionary spirit that must animate us,” the Holy Father says. And, quoting Saint Augustine, the patron of his Religious Order, he adds: “The Church consists of all those who are in harmony with their brothers and sisters and who love their neighbor” (Serm. 359,9).  

 Where do we encounter Jesus and receive his gift of joy? Certainly, we encounter him in prayer and in the sacraments of the Church. But we are reminded also of the Lord’s powerful words: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). 

 Whenever we reach out to others and can move beyond our comfort zones to embrace the poor and the marginalized, we find Jesus. Whenever we “go forth” and embrace the Gospel’s “missionary spirit,” we discover — and can share — the joy of the Gospel.  

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