Skip to main content

Uncomplicated Joy

       It is one thing to attend Mass, but another entirely when you watch a dear friend be bound forever to Christ's Church. Today, I witnessed a marriage, but unlike the one last weekend, this one was between two men: Ryan Rojo and Christ Himself, and it was breathtaking. I could spend an entire blog about how dear this person is to me, and what he means to me and my family, but I won't. This isn't just about Ryan, this is also about "uncomplicated joy."
       Bishop Sis, the bishop of San Angelo, Texas, gave the homily at today's Mass, and although I was listening intently, his message ran through me and stopped with this one phrase: uncomplicated joy. If there were people around me looking in my direction when I heard that, I am sure they would have seen my eyes dilate and my jaw fall open. What the hell did this mean? What does it mean to have uncomplicated joy? Bishop Sis was speaking to Ryan about his newly marriage to the Church, and when he spoke life into this phrase I knew he was speaking to us, the Church.
        Uncomplicated: not complicated by something outside itself. Joy: a feeling of great happiness, success in doing, finding, or getting something. So, in a sense, this means that we get pleasure by doing something in a way that is entirely simple in nature. I LOVE THIS!! How often have I surpassed the simple to reach a complexity that just brings complications to my life? How often have I taken something of innocence and driven it mad by attaching my own version of perverseness. We are to strive for uncomplicated joy, a happiness that is simple.
         This is not only for the life of Deacon Ryan Rojo, but for all of us. It is a call to humility. It is a call to holiness, and we must answer. When Ryan is getting up each morning and looking into the mirror to say "Yes" to Christ's call, I plan to wake each morning with the intent to achieve uncomplicated joy. Grrr!! This is so awesome!
         And as I drove to the Rojo household being welcomed with open arms as a part of the family, I caught a glimpse of this joy. The authentic Mexican Mariachi band, the amazing homemade food (and tortillas...a personal fave), my new favorite cookie: biscochos, the countless blessings given by Deacon Ryan, the honest and true conversations, the dry Texas heat, the smiles and laughter of kids and adults were all testaments to this uncomplicated joy, and I wish to seek it in all things.
         Be blessed, Deacon Ryan Rojo...I still blame you for making me cry through the whole Mass. It was an honor to see you today, and know that more than the Saints were looking down on you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The sun will come out...when?

   I could have really used the sun today. You know that feeling between being in an okay mood and being in a not so okay mood? Well, I am there. And, I know for a fact that the sun would have pushed me to the side of okay...or maybe even taken me to great. No sun today. Just grey, blah weather. I hate it! It makes me doubt things. It makes me create things in my mind. It makes me think of the demeantors breeding bad juju.    I need the sun. Today has been more of a blah day than I have experienced in a long while. The weather isn't just hazy, I have become haze. The weather isn't just dank. I have become dank. The weather isn't just cold. I have become cold. So much so that the phone I answer at work would better serve me if thrown through the window in front of me. So much so that the cell phone I keep in touch with my friends would better serve me if broken.     SAD: seasonal affective disorder. I think most people know what this is...
Post a Comment
Read more

Used to but not anymore

       I used to have this friend. It was a friendship that was uncomplicated and never required a lot of personal struggle. I never felt uncomfortable or as though I had to compromise myself. It was a friendship of true honesty and sincerity, and I miss it.         Oddly enough, I have these moments that I imagine my entire life ending. Just stopping. And as I ponder on where I am and who I am around and who would be affected, I think of this friend. Probably because they aren't around anymore. I think that perhaps they aren't around to help me cope with the things I encounter on a daily basis. Odd, you say? Eh, if you knew them, you wouldn't think so.         I honestly can't remember the first time I met this person. I was very young, and never imagined that we would grow as close as we did. It was perhaps a friendship forged in similar tastes and loves. We loved to banter about religion and philosophy and litera...
2 comments
Read more

What is love? Baby, I'm hurting...I'm hurting...🎶🎶

  Early last week was bad for white boy. He was injured and is probably left with a broken foot. Now, he hasn't been to the doctor and continues to walk and work and do all the things. He continues to also piss me off because he hasn't gone. Granted, I tend to be stubborn too, but if that would have happened to me and my foot looked like that, I would have been at the doctor's office first thing in the morning.   Having said that, that is all I can think about in the back of my mind. How much he is in pain and how much it sucks. I can't fix it, but I can get irritated and semi-yell at him for not going to have it checked out. Guess that's how I cope. I love him, but damn is it frustrating.   Sometimes I wonder how people show love. Sometimes I wonder if people show love in grandiose ways or if the subtlety of love is what is true love. Sure, I mean when he proposed that was a good indicator that he loves me. When I said yes is also a good indicator that I love him...
Post a Comment
Read more