In the first reading St. Paul exhorts us to rejoice. Joy is the fruit of a life lived in loved with Christ. This joy is more than a feeling that we have. It gives us strength and is our motivation to persevere in faith even during times of struggle.
One of the reasons for this joy is the fact that “The Lord is near.” We are not abandoned by the Lord, He is with us each day and each moment. Often we can be so consumed with the issues of the day and worldly concerns that we are blind to His presence. That is why we must take time each day for prayer and why we need to attend Mass on Sundays and whenever we can. These encounters with the Lord tune in our mind and heart so that we are able to know of His presence and love through the day to day of living in the world.
Living in Love with God 
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