Choosing Joy

“Joy is the net of love by which we catch souls.” – Mother Teresa

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Whenever I share The SundayMonday with a new friend, the first question is “Wow, how do you share your faith in the workplace?” Many people tell me that they feel uncomfortable or unsafe about bringing up their beliefs at work. Others find themselves in perfect moments to do so, but freeze. When the moment of truth comes, how can we meet it well?

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My response, and my encouragement for you today, is the same: “Live joyfully.”

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When we enter the workplace or the classroom with joy, people are intrigued. There’s something captivating, something attractive, something beautiful about joy. Joy brings levity. Joy requires presence. Joy is a gift that is poured out upon the people around us. But more than anything, joy is the easiest way to share our faith, and it’s one of the easiest virtues to cultivate.

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That’s because joy is a choice. We get to choose how we enter a room. We get to choose if we’re going to mull over that blunt message from a colleague, or if we’re going to let it go and focus on loving them. We get to choose if we’re going to tell everyone on our team how frustrated we are with a project , or if we’re going to sleep on it and approach the situation with fresh eyes. Joy is a choice, and we can choose to cultivate it.

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But before we can share joy, we need to find it. This week, we’re exploring ways to do that on the podcast, the Instagram, and right here in our newsletter. I challenge you to do something that brings you joy and share it with me, either by replying to this email or by sending me a photo/message on Instagram! Let’s encourage one another to live joyfully, and use that joy as a net to bring others closer to Christ.

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Joyfully yours,

Jane

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What we’re loving lately (on the blog and beyond!)

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​A Gal’s Guide to Transitioning to Grad School (without going nuts) by Joy Ruiz

Upon returning to school this fall, Joy was determined to find a way to manage the transition with as much grace and peace as possible. In this piece, she shares how she’s finding balance through community, logistics, prayer, budgeting, and more.

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​Martyrdom Mentality by Emma Podkul

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“The answer lies in fidelity to God in prayer and in the development of virtue. The closer we get to the light of Christ, the more we become aware of our own sin and weakness. This is wonderful news, because it means that we are finally able to recognize our need for a savior. We can finally internalize and live out St. Paul’s words – “when I am weak, then I am strong” – by completely relying on the Holy Spirit and thus accomplishing His will in the world. (2 Corinthians 12:10)” Emma’s reflection on Christian martyrs and how God calls us to live radically out of love for Him is beautiful. I encourage you to take the time to read and reflect on this piece this week!​
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Liturgical Living with Gabriela R. A. Doyle

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September is the Month of our Sorrowful Mother, also known as the seven dolors of Mary. Do you know all 7? Poor Mary was heartbroken in many ways through her fiat, and here are just a few:

1. Simeon’s prophecy when Jesus was a baby, where he told Mary she would suffer like a sword piercing her soul when others rejected her Son;
2. The escape of the Holy Family into Egypt and their time away from community there;
3. The loss of the child Jesus in the Temple;
4. Seeing Jesus on his long walk to Calvary;
5. Witnessing Jesus’ suffering beneath the cross;
6. Holding Jesus when he was taken down from the cross; and
7. Watching Jesus be laid to rest in the tomb.

All of these are things no mother should ever have to experience, but Mary endured them with great grace and poise. Her sorrows teach us how to live our vocation without fear of the future and full surrender and trust in God’s plan. If you’re looking to learn from Mary’s example this month, pick a sorrow and read about directly in God’s word. What stands out to you? How can you apply this trust and love in your own sorrows?

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Intentions for This Week

For the members of our community. For our friends and family who have left the church.

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