This book presents an overview of Pope Benedict's theology that revolves around the theme of joy. Benedict believes that the "pastoral ministry, in all its dimensions, is, ultimately, 'a service to joy, to God's joy which longs to break into the world' (2). The first word of the Gospel is an invitation to Joy. The angel says to Mary, "Rejoice!" (Luke 1:28). The angels proclaim "good news of great joy for all people" (Luke 2:10).
What is joy? "Authentic joy is not something flippant, transient, or superficial, nor is it a mere feeling of euphoria that can be generated at will or by engaging in the various forms of pleasure or entertainment that today's world has to offer. Rather, it is an abiding God-given reality, a 'fruit of the Holy Spirit' (see Gal 5:22), characterized by profound serenity and inner peace, which flows from allowing oneself to be embraced by God's love and is capable of withstanding all the trials and tribulations of life" (3).
The gospel "reveals the path to the lasting joy that satisfies the deepest needs of the human heart" (3). Joy cannot be found without wrestling with the big questions of life: "Meaning and joy are closely connected: there can be true joy only if man knows that his life has meaning, and such knowledge, in turn, gives rise to inner harmony, joy and peace" (37).
Joy comes from knowing we are deeply and personally loved and that our lives matter. Only faith's embrace of the gospel's revelation of God's eternal love brings true and lasting joy. For this reason, agnosticism cannot satisfy:
Agnosticism, though initially appealing because of its lack of dogmatic commitment and its recognition of the limits of human scientific knowing, is no solution to the God-question. The thirst for the infinite is an essential dimension of human nature. We cannot simply put aside the fundamental questions (Where do I come from? Where am I going? What is the measure of my being?) as though they did not impinge on everyday life. The question of God is, in fact, eminently practical, because it affects all spheres of life. While one could accept agnosticism as a theoretical position, in practice we must decide between one of two possibilities: to live as though God exists or to live as though he does not. Hence, the question of God is not a neutral one, for the way we live our lives depends on our answer to it. (63)
The gospel reveals that humankind is not absurd: "Man, then, may no longer be considered absurd, he is not deprived of consolation, and so we can rejoice. God loves us so much that his love became and remains flesh" (130). Thus, "The message of joy, which is at the heart of Christianity, is a message about meaning and about love: man's life has meaning because he is loved by the one love that can never fail" (206).
This is a profound book that demonstrates the depths of Benedict's theology and - even more importantly - the joy of the gospel.
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