I am here to share my thoughts on "Joy in Jesus. "As children we are happy when we got any gift, when we get any new things, when we celebrate out birthday, when we go for a picnic, when we get good marks for the exams, things like these. Our parents are always ready to teach us many things. They want us to develop all our talents like dance, singing painting, drawing, music and so many other talents. The most important talent we receive is learning to pray, teaching us to pray.

Once when God touches us we are able to accept everything from the hands of God. When we are prayerful we live a joyful life. Set it is anything in our life may be sadness, happiness, sickness, worries, problems, and discouragement or may be a failure or o encouragement from my parents and teachers. Sometimes friends betray us. When we don’t get acceptance from our dear ones, let us not be sad. As Christian children we have all the right to be joyful. Jesus is the joy of living. He is the dearest friend I know.

Psalm 16 verse 11 says "You will show me the path that leads to life, your presence fills me with Joy and brings me pleasure for ever"

Psalm 45 verse 7 says "You love what is right and hate what is evil. That why is God your God has chosen you and has poured out more happiness on you than other king".

Let us not close our heart, to sad or distressed, needy, helpless, discouraged, poors, broken-hearted.

Give and we will find joy.

Isaiah 61 verse 3 tells us    "Give those who mourn in Zion.
                                          Joy and gladness instead of grief.
                                           A song of praise instead of sorrow.
                            They will be like trees that the lord himself has planted."

Romans 14 verse17 says, "For God’s kingdom is not a matter of eating or drinking but of the righteousness peace and joy which the Holy Spirit gives".

What is perfect joy?

Saying no to the worldly happiness is the perfect joy. This joy we can attain by going close to Jesus. When we love someone, we never get tired of his or her company. We spend as much time with that person as we can think of how much more we want to enjoy the company of Jesus. The best way to stay close to Jesus is to go to Mass and receive Holy Communion, every day if possible.

Peter 1 verse 8 teaches us "You love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express".

He is with us always. He is an unseen God. We see him through our neighbour who is suffering, who is in need of something.

Psalm 43 verse 4 says,           "I will go to the altar of God to God who gives joy
                                                                            to my youth."

 Only in Him we can find perfect joy. Today’s youth run after worldly pleasures, drugs and the bad company for enjoyment. Doing the right thing can be hard sometimes but it will make us happy. Doing the wrong thing leaves a feeling of sadness inside us. This is a part of our human nature. So let us find perfect joy in him who strengthens us? With his help we are able to face anything happily. Wherever we go, whatever we do our loving father guides us. Set the storm be rough, let the sun be cloudy. I find joy in everything.

Let me conclude my speech by singing a song on joy.

Thank you.

JOY IS LIKE THE RAIN

I saw raindrops on my window,
Joy is like the rain,
Slaughter runs across my pane
Slops away and comes again,

Joy is like the rain!
I saw clouds upon a mountain,
Joy is like a cloud,
Sometimes silver, sometimes grey,

Always sun not far away,
Joy is like a cloud!
I saw Christ in wind and thunder,
Joy is tried by storm,

Christ asleep within my boat,
Whipped by wind get still afloat,
Joy is tried by storm!