Comments of Richard Hughes
I’ll tell you like it is Easter, your book is AWESOME!! I knew it would be good (because of your Christian spirit!), but I didn’t know it would be so spiritually inspiring. Everything was outstanding, from the cover design by Esther Gefroh, the book design and production by Blaine Fergerstrom, to your extraordinary authorship and coordination through poems and “Easter’s Notes.” You combined diverse writings to make Serving God Joyfully a small but worthy tribute to Almighty God, and that was not an easy task. (I’m reminded of St. Theresa of Lisieux, the “saint of the little way,” who believed that by doing little tasks to serve the Lord, one can play a part in changing the world — and she did!)
I have nearly finished reading Serving God Joyfully, and every time I pick up the book and begin to read, I am filled with divine joy! Others may have the same experience. By “divine joy,” I am speaking of that precious gift of joy one receives from the Holy Spirit, a gift I’m certain you have experienced many times (it’s evident in your writings, and it’s catching!).
I make a clear distinction between happiness and what I call divine joy. My experience is that happiness is fleeting, but divine joy is lasting — if we are willing to open up our heart to Jesus’ love and the gift of His joy. Divine joy is what the ancient historians and witnesses saw on the faces of early Christians who were being led to their death, in the Coliseum in Rome. As you know, such joy is there for everyone, through the Holy Spirit. (Jn 15:9-11)
Personal testimonies and witnessing (as found in Serving God Joyfully) inspire others and lead to divine joy. It may have taken courage for some of the writers to share their inner thoughts, as they did so well, and that reminds me of something that Jesus said: “You are the salt of the earth….You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matt. 5:13-16, emphasis mine.) Serving God Joyfully allowed some of the faithful to “let their light shine,” which may inspire many faithful Christians to come forth and volunteer for ministries.
As you know, it is through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the charisms, that the Church is built up. When too many Catholic Christians disregard Jesus’ teachings, and do not let their light “shine before others” in a humble way, how may others be inspired? For many, the church may seem spiritless and not much more than a programmatic series of religious ceremonies. It is through known examples that the faithful are inspired to come forth and serve God through church ministries. When they learn what their fellow parishioners are doing, some will invariably be inspired to join ministries that serve the poor, needy and suffering in the name of Jesus Christ (we are a healing church!). Amen?
Several of the Serving God Joyfully stories were written by those who left the Catholic Church, and when they returned, they joined one or more ministries. Did you notice that their ministries seemed to serve as the “glue” that has kept them in the Catholic community?