This Third Sunday of Advent is familiarly known as Gaudete Sunday – a Latin word that means “rejoice” – the first word (in Latin) of the Entrance Antiphon at Mass: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” We mark Gaudete Sunday by lighting a rose-colored candle (in the Advent wreath) and the celebrant at Mass may wear rose colored vestments. The church rejoices because we are halfway to Christmas. I refer you to the First Reading from Isaiah: “The parched land will exult, will rejoice and bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.” We are called to be a joyful people. The Promised One is approaching and is nearer at hand.
I get the impression, though, in today’s early post-pandemic world that “joy” is on the decline. The theme of joy is a rare commodity. When someone asks: “How was your day?” We might hear ho-hum tones: “It was OK” or “Could have been better” or “I’m just so tired of doing the same thing every day.” Or “I’m exhausted.” Or “Don’t ask me.” To have joy is to have a deep sense of delight. The Greek origins of the word “joy” literally means “for the heart, in its deepest place of passion and feelings, to be well.” That’s what it’s like to have joy.
So why is joy so rare? To experience joy in one’s life, four qualities must co-exist. First, joy takes time. Joy comes of living a “savored” life. Take the time, make the time to smell the roses, to observe the pace of a sandhill crane crossing the street or to glory in a sunset or moonrise. There is an old monastic saying that describes joy. “When you are sipping tea or watering a plant, or gazing at an icon, do just that.” Be present in the moment. Such moments are pregnant with God’s real presence, promise and providential care.
Second, to know joy requires acceptance – a “yes” to life – YES to the hand we’ve been dealt. You may have discovered at some point that the script we’ve been handed in the play of life is not the part we thought we were trying out for. Joy requires a deep willingness to accept that we are God’s creatures and that God is at work according to God’s good pleasure. Joyful persons do not live in a state of resentment for what might have been or what “used to be.” In God’s plan, there is a reason why today is not tomorrow. We need each of our todays to prepare us to receive the promise of tomorrow. Remember the phrase from our COVID prayer: “We live in full union with the God who loves us and wants only our good.”
Third, for a joyful spirit desire is required. We have to want joy. Joy is a gift, a gift of the Spirit. If you want the gift of joy, ask God for the gift with your heart open and ready to accept the gift in whatever way God hands to the gift to you.
And, fourth, to be joyful we need stability, patience and endurance. Maybe that’s why Jesus says: “Truly I tell you… you will have sorrow… but your sorrow will turn into joy.”
Life for most people is not picture perfect. But there is much joy to be found if we simply LOOK for JOY. Be on the lookout to SEE and REFLECT the JOY that is right before your eyes waiting to be seen. The more we dwell on our everyday blessings, the more joyful moments seem to multiply in our lives. And by experiencing more joy in my own life, I have more JOY to give away. To quote Henri Nouwen: “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” JOY is a beautiful gift to embrace, celebrate and give away at Christmastime.
~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
First Reading Isaiah 35:1-6, 10
Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Gospel Reading Matthew 11:2-11
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