God is king of all the earth.--Psalm 47:8
Mass readings: Acts 18:9-18 / John 16:20-23
I can't say that I entirely agree with today's Gospel statement that after giving birth a woman does not remember labor pain. As a mother of four I can tell you that anticipating that second (and third and fourth!) childbirth was much tougher knowing the pain that was ahead of me. But no matter how difficult the labor and delivery, it's undoubtedly true that seeing my new baby filled me with such wonder that it melted every other care away.
This is the joy that Jesus describes. Nothing else matters except what is right before me -- and that's all I need. Acknowledging God is the basis of the joy. God is within me, no one can take my joy away. As proclaimed in Acts, ''Do not be afraid . . . for I am with you.''
Prayer: You are my joy, Lord!