J y
o
The
Joy of the Gospel
The Source of Lasting
Dr. John Yocum
At the heart of the Holy Father’s high-spirited exhortation,
The Joy of the Gospel, is an invitation to allow our hearts
Dr. Eduardo Echeverria
to be transformed by grace and the gladness it brings.
W
hy the emphasis on believing
in joy in Pope Francis’ writings,
even his pre-papal writings?
From his first Palm Sunday homily to his first
apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The
Joy of the Gospel), released in November, a
major theme runs throughout them all. That
2
MOSAIC
theme is well expressed in the opening lines
of the exhortation:
“The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and
lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who
accept his offer of salvation are set free from
sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness.
“With Christ joy is constantly born anew.”