How can I embrace joy while injustice persists?

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I have come to the conclusion that I can only truly embrace joy by accepting the faults of others. When Peter sank while walking on water, he took his eyes off Jesus and looked more on the circumstances around him and upon the possibility of what “could” happen. The book of Job gives account how we so easily accept good things from God, and should also accept the suffering He gives. I am ready to begin to accept the petty faults of others and self (disagreements with spouse, lousy drivers, my own limitations, etc.) but when I see something on TV that is morally offensive to children, or hear about government leaders that support abortion, etc,. It robs me of my joy. Should I allow it to? Is there a way I can be in total disagreement with an offensive injustice yet not have it rob me of my joy? Jesus displayed anger with the Pharisees & Scribes. Can a person have feelings of anger yet have joy for having that anger at the same time? I really mean that. Can I have the feeling of anger toward injustice, yet rejoice because that anger is directed for the greater glory of God? Should I therefore remain angry over the injustices that lead others to mortal sin yet still be able to rejoice that I have that anger because I’m supposed to have it? Is anger toward such things a part of joy?

Now one more question, I like to offer little sacrfices on a daily basis. However, they have a tendency to strip away some of my joy. I have developed a “sacrifice” frame of mind. I seem to have less joy than before. Is it better to sacrifice melancholy than the (morally acceptable) things that take away my joy? Where do I draw the line between joy and sacrifice? Joy leads to more love. Love is better than sacrifice. What do you suggest?
 
I wonder if you are confusing joy and happiness. Joy is a virtue. A virtue is a deliberately cultivated action of the will.

Therefore, being joyful should be independent of your mood. It’s a hard virtue to cultivate.
Philippians 4:4-7
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Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
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As for your small mortifications, if they were easy–they wouldn’t be mortifications. They should cause discomfort. I think if you are finding that at a certain point in your day, you are unable to do your mortification without it affecting your behavior, then you should drop it. I have had to do this before. 🙂 At least, you have those few hours of sacrifice. The mind is willing but the body is weak.

Joy is a hard virtue to explain/understand. No virtues are feelings, but joy seems to have some element of being tied into emotions. I think it is more of an attitude of being interiorly at peace and being positive about life despite all exterior challenges.

It sounds like God is calling you to cultivate this virtue. That is really great. I think people who are joyful are a real advertisement for Christianity. I know when I meet someone who is full of joy, I feel closer to God.
 
Lou F
I have come to the conclusion that I can only truly embrace joy by accepting the faults of others.
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Well others have to put up with your faults, of which your probably not even aware of, so see it as breaking even.

Excuse me but, your post comes across as a little sanctimonious.

Jim
 
It seems that true joy only comes from our hope in God and our redemption. This is a virtue that comes from grace, from being able to see that eternity transcends what we experience in the here and now.

My hope and my joy come from knowing that in spite of my “experiences” here, whether happy or sad, these will someday be replaced by that which has been redeemed for me by my Savior, Jesus Christ.

So, while we may become weary here, with all that we see around us, all our efforts that “seem” to be for nothing, our hope and joy come from knowing something altogether different, that in eternity Christ and Him working in us and through us, will have gained for us joys indescribable.

Does that make sense? 😊
 
This is what St. Francis said about perfect joy:

feastofsaints.com/perfectjoy.htm

’And now hear the conclusion, Brother Leo. Above all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to His friends is that of conquering oneself and willingly enduring sufferings, insults, humiliations, and hardships for the love of Christ. For we cannot glory in all those other marvelous gifts of God, as they are not ours but God’s, as the Apostle says: ‘What have you that you have not received?’ But we can glory in the cross of tribulations and afflictions, because that is ours, and so the Apostle says: ‘I will not glory save in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ.’"
 
Thank you all for your greatly appreciated help & insight. I would also like to apologize for mentioning “I have come to the conclusion”. After re-reading what I wrote, it sounds very haughty, as if “I” have the answers. I don’t. You and God teach me more than I can ever know. Your help has made me look at penance as a gift, not a burden. A joy, not a chore. You helped me realize that the returns from God far out-weigh any struggle I can ever encounter as long as I offer it to Him. Please pray that I may now live by this. With God’s peace & joy, I am going to pray for you. Love, Lou
 
Sorry if I seem to be hijacking this thread, though I think it’s a related idea.

I don’t have difficulty accepting hardship in a joyful state of penance, but I come in for a lot of criticism from others because I always seem to expect the worst. I rarely do anything positive without expecting it all to go wrong. Before I start anything, I basically pray to God saying “I offer up this task going wrong, and all the frustrations that will cause me for the holy souls”. I’m always expecting everything to go wrong, and am at my most joyful when they do. This ends up being a self-fulfilling prophecy and has lost me countless job opportunities and even broke up my engagement to my former fiancee.

How do I accept that things might go right without getting stressed and angry when they don’t?

As for righteous indignation, which I think was part of the OP’s question, I think we can have joy in knowing that we are on the winning side in the ultimate battle. It is indeed right to be angry at injustice. The Psalmist talks of hating iniquity with a “perfect hatred” - i.e. hating the sin but loving the sinner - and the martyrs in Revelation cry out from God’s altar in heaven for vengeance. The key is not being bitter or despairing in the face of injustice, but offering this up to God in prayer too.
 
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