It is the Gaudete Sunday, and the church invites us to “rejoice.” This invitation, like the Israel of Zephaniah’s time, is to sing joyfully and to exult with gladness. Christ, the newborn king is coming into our midst. How uplifting these words from the prophet:
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you
he has turned away your enemies;
the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
Paul echoes a similar sentiment, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice.” To realize that Paul wrote his letter to the Philippian community while in prison, probably at Rome or Ephesus, perhaps bound in chains, makes the subject of rejoicing spectacular. What could make Paul joyful in prison, more so, to encourage the people to embrace a joyful attitude? Paul understands that the Lord’s presence in our hearts is the reason for joy; “The Lord is near,” and that a full knowledge of this is beyond human understanding.
In his homily addressing the rich man who walked away sad from Jesus (Matt. 19:22), Pope Francis described joy as “the air Christians breathe.” Joy, in the pope’s explanation, is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and does not constitute in fragments of pleasure. The rich young man came to Jesus, possessed almost everything, yet walked away sad on hearing the demands to give away his possessions. He lacked inner joy. Pope Francis says,
Joy does not mean living from laugh to laugh. No, it’s not that. Joy is not entertainment. No, it’s not that. It is something else. Christian joy is peace, peace that is deeply rooted, peace in the heart, the peace that only God can give. This is Christian joy. It is not easy to foster this joy.
The Advent spirit challenges us to find the reason for our joy. The people of John’s time -the crowd, tax collectors, and soldiers- ask him, “What shall we do?” What shall we do to rediscover authentic joy? These people’s joy did not consist in having extra cloaks, not in collecting more than what is prescribed, not in extortion, or in falsely accusing others. Their joy was to be found in the expectation of the Messiah based on a life of commitment to the will of God. No wonder Christ said to his disciples, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (Jn. 15:11).
Perhaps we should ask the same question in our time as Christians, as parents, husbands, wives, teachers, priests, etc. As believers in Christ, this question is pertinent, “What shall we do?” This is the best way to keep faith real and practical, to understand the meaning of joy in our hearts: What shall I do to restore joy in my heart?
First, we should identify what steals God’s peace from our hearts. Identify the way to make your joy come from God and not from external things of the world. That joy is peaceful. Then, Paul says, “In all circumstances give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). Treat that joy as sacred. Cherish and protect it. Nurture your joy always with God's word in the scriptures. Then, always ask the Holy Spirit to permeate your life. Joy is the Holy Spirit’s gift.
Authentic joy is also generative. It gives birth through giving. The Blessed Virgin Mary sets an example with her visit to her cousin Elizabeth. The gospel captures that encounter. Elizabeth’s joy was ignited by the Virgin Mother and she exclaims, “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy” (Lk. 1:44).
Advent invites us to keep it real in whatever we do. It is a good time for stocktaking opportunities for Christians. Are you truly joyful? Do you bring joy to others? We can still ask the Holy Spirit to breathe God’s peace into our hearts and to help us feel joy, "that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation." Again, with Paul, I say to you, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
Name one aspect or situation in your life that steals your joy. Speak with your priest about it. Perhaps in the confessional if necessary.
READINGS: 1ST- ZEPH. 3:14-18; 2ND- PHIL. 4:4-7; GOSPEL- LK. 3:10-18
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