SHARING JOY

A Midweek Lenten Meditation
by Laura Gentry

In this painting, I have put candles in each person's hand. This is to signify how we are called to shine forth the joy of God in the world. The bible makes it clear that joy is an important expression of faith. So often we take ourselves and our stresses so seriously that we experience and share little joy. The Psalmist testifies that we ought to share the joy of the whole earth and praise God with great exhuberance and joy. May this painting serve as a visual focus for you to discover new depths of God's joy and share it with others. The scriptures below are from the New Revised Standard Version.

Psalms 96:12
Let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Psalms 65:12-13
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy: the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

Psalms 89:12
The north and the south—you created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.

Isaiah 55:12
For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Luke 1.14
The angel said to Mary: “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at the birth of your son.”

Luke 2:10
The angel said to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”

Matthew 2:10
When the wise men saw that the star had stopped over the place where the Christ child lay, they were overwhelmed with joy.

John 15:11
“I have said these things to you,” Jesus said to his disciples,”so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

1 Peter 1.8
Although you have not seen Jesus, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy.

Jeremiah 31.13
God says, “I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow!”

Psalms 30.11
The Psalmist cries: “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”

1 Peter 4.13
But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.

Psalms 98.4
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.