The Joy of the Gospel

What on earth are you chasing? We are all chasing something, and always for the same reason: we want something or someone to give us the joy we yearn for at the very depths of our being. All too often we are searching for joy in all the wrong places. Pope Francis calls this the feverish pursuit of the frivolous. What brings you joy? We live busy lives and in the midst of all the chasing it is essential that we slow down from time to time, and not just slow down, but pause, to reflect of who we are, where we are, and what we are doing. Is all the chasing bringing us the joy that God created us to experience? Jesus Christ, the undeniable, inescapable, unavoidable God, wants to fill you with joy. The Gospels are the most complete record of his life and teachings, and they hold the key to the joy we never stop yearning for. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all chasing Jesus. In this book, Pope Francis explains how and why embracing the Gospel is the source of this joy. Through his personal passion, he brings to life the Gospels for the people of this age, by taking the reader on a journey exploring many of the challenges facing the people of God today, while at the same time inviting the reader to whole-heartedly embrace the Gospel like never before. The Joy of the Gospel is a deeply personal invitation to reflect on the gap between the life we are living and the life God calls us to live. It is an invitation to love both God and our neighbor more fully. It is an invitation to live more fully in the midst of the opportunities and challenges that each day presents.

What on earth are you chasing? We are all chasing something, and always for the same reason: we want something or someone to give us the joy we yearn for at the very depths of our being. All too often we are searching for joy in all the wrong places. Pope Francis calls this the feverish pursuit of the frivolous. What brings you joy? We live busy lives and in the midst of all the chasing it is essential that we slow down from time to time, and not just slow down, but pause, to reflect of who we are, where we are, and what we are doing. Is all the chasing bringing us the joy that God created us to experience? Jesus Christ, the undeniable, inescapable, unavoidable God, wants to fill you with joy. The Gospels are the most complete record of his life and teachings, and they hold the key to the joy we never stop yearning for. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all chasing Jesus. In this book, Pope Francis explains how and why embracing the Gospel is the source of this joy. Through his personal passion, he brings to life the Gospels for the people of this age, by taking the reader on a journey exploring many of the challenges facing the people of God today, while at the same time inviting the reader to whole-heartedly embrace the Gospel like never before. The Joy of the Gospel is a deeply personal invitation to reflect on the gap between the life we are living and the life God calls us to live. It is an invitation to love both God and our neighbor more fully. It is an invitation to live more fully in the midst of the opportunities and challenges that each day presents.

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was ordained as a priest in 1969 and became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. He was elected pope by the College of Cardinals following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on March 13, 2013. His life has been marked by a deep humility, concern for the poor, and a passion for engaging people from all walks of life in a conversation about the role of faith in our lives and in the world. The Joy of the Gospel is his first Apostolic Exhortation.