Philippians 4:4

Jesus makes it very clear that His mission is, not only to give us joy, but to complete it in our lives ( Gospel of John, chapter 15:11 ). On this third Sunday of Advent, which is called, Joyful ( the Latin is, Gaudete ) Sunday, we need to appreciate Jesus’s message of joy.

The joy which we experience as Christians is a sharing in the joy of Christ who overcame suffering, opposition, rejection, fear and even death itself. The message of the gospels is all about this kind of joy. It is the joy that never fades for it gives energy to faded hearts; rejuvenates the prematurely old; restores life to arid souls; and finds joy in everything.

This joy comes from within us because it wells up from the deep recesses of the human soul. It is not to be achieved by living on the surface, but by penetrating the deep things of ourselves through the grace of God, and by entering into the light of His kingdom. It is not the same as happiness which Eleanor Roosevelt famously described as a by-product. Joy is deeper and more permanent. It is a quality of the soul.

The quality of joy the Lord gives us is the grace to penetrate beneath the surface; to examine our life styles with a view to making them more Christ-like. The sacrifices we make to follow Christ better in order to enter into His joy have been worth it for He gives us a new spirit: the Holy Spirit. To experience this new spirit we must be prepared to put aside old ways; that is, old ways that are selfish, dysfunctional, joyless.

The gift of joy is one of the most valuable gifts that God has given us. It manifests itself in an unlimited variety of experiences and new awakenings. Our renewed spirits can shake with joy again at the many experiences of new life: the incredible beauty and interconnectedness of nature; the joy of couples celebrating their union together; the beauty of dedicated and unselfish lives; the many wonders of nature, and of people; the joy of watching little squirrels bouncing about on trees; little children with bare feet, playing on sandy shores; the graceful appearances of those who possess this joy without fear of life or death. Nothing can rob you of this joy for you can carry it with you wherever you go, and experience it wherever you are.

This is the joy which the Lord imparts to us; it is the joy of the soul which He calls “complete.” It is not to be confused with the passing attractions and pleasures of life which, though they are part and parcel of human happiness, are still only temporary. The joy of the Lord is permanent because it is a force within that will never fade away.

That is why St. Paul tells us to rejoice always.

Fr. Hugh Duffy

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