Today's readings -- and the presidential prayers for the Mass -- tell us that we should rejoice. Isaiah's imagery is a bit shocking as he refers to Jerusalem (the New Jerusalem) as a Mother who delights in her children and plays with them on her lap. In the Gospel, even as the disciples are reporting to Jesus about their progress following their first missionary activity, Jesus says to them, "Rejoice rather because your names are written in heaven." In the midst of all of that, St. Paul writes to the Galatians that he will boast of nothing except the cross of Christ. It is only by embracing our crosses that we are assured the glory of the Resurrection.
