Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises. Selah
5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
8 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob. Selah
“Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.” — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
“Joy has no name. Its very being is lost in the great tide of selfless delight — creation’s response to the infinite loving of God.” — Evelyn Underhill
“The announcement is the great joy that the Lord is present and living in the world: that the Lord is with us. Dominus vobiscum, the Lord be with you. This is what we are constantly announcing in the liturgy, that the Lord is present in the world.” — Thomas Merton
Reflection
Today we invite you to reflect on and with joy. Embodied joy is an abiding awareness of the gift given to each and every one of us, no matter our circumstances in life. Joy requires attention. As you read the Psalm and thoughts above, spend a few moments thinking about joy specifically. How or where have you seen joy recently? Set aside a few quiet moments today to notice the world around you. Is there something there where you notice joy rising within you? Take a moment to pray in gratitude for the joy you shared in.