5. The Gospel, radiant with the glory of

Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice. A

few examples will suffice. “Rejoice!” is the angel’s

greeting to Mary (Lk 1:28). Mary’s visit to

Elizabeth makes John leap for joy in his mother’s

womb (cf. Lk 1:41). In her song of praise,

Mary proclaims: “My spirit rejoices in God my

Saviour” (Lk 1:47). When Jesus begins his ministry,

John cries out: “For this reason, my joy has

been fulfilled” (Jn 3:29). Jesus himself “rejoiced

in the Holy Spirit” (Lk 10:21). His message

brings us joy: “I have said these things to you,

so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy

may be complete” (Jn 15:11). Our Christian joy

drinks of the wellspring of his brimming heart.

He promises his disciples: “You will be sorrowful,

but your sorrow will turn into joy” (Jn 16:20).

He then goes on to say: “But I will see you again

and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will

take your joy from you” (Jn 16:22). The disciples

“rejoiced” (Jn 20:20) at the sight of the risen

Christ. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that

the first Christians “ate their food with glad and

generous hearts” (2:46). Wherever the disciples

went, “there was great joy” (8:8); even amid persecution

they continued to be “filled with joy”

(13:52). The newly baptized eunuch “went on

his way rejoicing” (8:39), while Paul’s jailer “and

his entire household rejoiced that he had become

a believer in God” (16:34). Why should we not

also enter into this great stream of joy?

(Evangelii Gaudium 5)