“God rejoices.  Not because the problems of the world have been solved, not because all human pain and suffering have come to an end, nor because thousands of people have been converted and are now praising him for his goodness.  No, God rejoices because one of his children who was lost has been found.  What I am called to is to enter into that joy.  It is God's joy, not the joy that the world offers.  It is the joy that comes from seeing a child walk home amid all the destruction, devastation, and anguish of the world” (Henri Nouwen).

Jesus said that there is more joy in heaven when one sinner repents. Just think about it. Every time we recognize our sinfulness and return to the Lord with a repentant heart, the saints and angels rejoice with God. And when we so repent and return to the Lord, we too have a new sense of joy and freedom. Parents, I think, experiences a sense of this heavenly joy when they see their children move away from destructive habits. So, if we want God to rejoice in us, put aside sin and return to the Lord; put aside sin and share in his own divine life.