KUCHING — EMPOWERED organised an IG Live Session on 7 May 2021 featuring guest speaker Fr Stanley Goh, SJ and hosts Brian Chin and Francis Davin from EMPOWERED to discuss the Joy of Easter.
Fr Stanley started the session with a sharing on what it means to live in the reality of Joy. He highlighted that Joy is the heart of Easter and that the Holy week is an expression of love, and our response to God during Holy Week is Joy. Joy leads us to conversion, greater love and gratitude. He then went on to speak about the differences of Joy and Happiness which can be summarised as follows:
- Joy is choosing to respond to God
- Joy is to recognise God’s Love
- Joy is choose to love in response
- Joy is an internal response to the reality of God’s Love
- Happiness is an emotion without the choice
- Happiness derives itself from self-satisfaction
Besides that, Fr Stanley also mentioned that choosing to live in joy requires us to make that choice which is to live in His Love and to love other people. Joy and Happiness can be from the same sources but we need to see the fruits of both sides; the outcome of it.
He ended the evening by praying with the online viewers and he encouraged everyone to continue to hope with the sense of Joy, especially during this time.
Some questions from the audience:
What can young people do to live out their faith especially in terms of finding joy in Christ?
Talk about our faith, share it with people who may be receptive of what we are saying; invite people to join any church sessions.
What can we do during these remaining days of Easter; how can we “Easter” our days?
- Continue “Eastering”; apply the love of God unto others.
- Be channel of life by helping others and bring joy. Allow Jesus’ life to flow through us.
Empowered Ministry Kuching
