first fruits

"It is impossible 
for a person who prays regularly 
to remain in serious sin; 
because the two are incompatible, 
one or the other will have to be given up." 
               -St. Teresa of Avila

There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. 
I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, 
especially at moments of great difficulty. 
Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, 
even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, 
when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved. 
I understand the grief of people who have to endure great suffering, 
yet slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith 
slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, 
even amid the greatest distress: 
“My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is… 
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 
the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, 
his mercies never come to an end; 
they are new every morning. 
Great is your faithfulness… 
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” 
          (Lam 3:17, 21-23, 26).
                    Joy of the Gospel
Isaiah 57:15...

For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
For I will not contend forever,
Nor will I always be angry;
For the spirit would fail before Me,
And the souls which I have made.

For the iniquity of his covetousness
I was angry and struck him;
I hid and was angry,
And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
I have seen his ways, and will heal him;
I will also lead him,
And restore comforts to him
And to his mourners.

 “I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
Says the Lord,
“And I will heal him.”

Isaiah 62:4

You shall no longer be termed Forsaken,
Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate;
But you shall be called Hephzibah,[a] and your land Beulah;[b]
For the Lord delights in you,
And your land shall be married.
 For as a young man marries a virgin,
So shall your sons marry you;
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
So shall your God rejoice over you.

Isaiah 43:16, 18, 25

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,

“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;
And I will not remember your sins.

the fruit of the Spirit is...
love
joy
peace
longsuffering
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control. 
Against such there is no law.
          Galations 5:22