Greetings and blessing to all of you. Thank you for joining me today as we reflect upon this Third Sunday of Advent.
For two weeks already, the season of Advent has been calling us away from the busyness of Christmas preparations and celebrations to a spiritual vigilance in preparing the way for the Lord who desires to come deeper into our lives. The Lord has so much he wants to share with those who seek him.
There is so much going on in our world right now. We are living in post-election times. We have high hopes for a coronavirus vaccine. The Christmas season is almost upon us, even though it is already being celebrated. But many people right now are worried about the challenges they face in their lives.
God's Promise
May we all hear with our hearts today the words of the prophet Isaiah who speaks of a promise to the Israelite people, this remnant who are living in exile. Isaiah has been anointed and been sent to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and to release the prisoner, to announce a year of favor, a year of vindication by God.
Great Joy
When this happens, these people in darkness— these people in exile— will experience great joy because God would come and be, once again, in their midst; his presence would be a joy that would transform their lives and could never be taken away.
This same joy has been offered to us. Isaiah’s promise of joy that comes from God’s presence was fulfilled in part with the first appearance of Jesus through his incarnation— God coming among us as man— and then the ultimate and climatic rejoicing at Jesus’ second and final appearance, which is yet to come.
Christian Joy
Christian joy, like hope, is founded on God’s fidelity, on the certainty that he always keeps his promises. Jesus has come for those who have lost their way and have lost heart. Jesus invites us to entrust ourselves to the faithfulness of the Lord, for his salvation will not delay in bursting into our lives.
Those who have encountered Jesus along the way experience a serenity and joy in their hearts which nothing and no one can take away. Why?
Because our joy is Jesus Christ, and his faithful love is inexhaustible! Therefore, when a Christian becomes sad, it means that in some way this person has distanced him or herself from Jesus.
Jesus is Waiting for You
As we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, this Sunday of Joy, and continue to prepare for Christmas, Jesus is waiting for you; he is close to you. He loves you. He offers you his mercy. He strengthens you to face and overcome the trials of life. He brings you joy – a true joy that remains even amid trial, even in the midst of suffering.
This is not a passing joy or a superficial joy. It is a joy which permeates the depths of the person who entrusts himself to the Lord and confides in him. “Where there is great joy, there is the presence of the Holy Spirit.” True joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is alive in us, then this joy will be present. Joy is both a gift of God as well as a response to the gifts of God.
No One is Excluded
No one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord. Joy comes when we are aware of God’s grace and live in gratitude for what he has done for us in Christ Jesus.
This season of Advent is about living in the joy already given and preparing for the deeper joy yet to come in our own lives, as we wait in joyful expectation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May you find or rediscover this joy in your lives this Christmas. God bless you all.
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