Unfailing Source of Joy
“The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.”1 Thes 5:24
Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as “Gaudete” Sunday from the Latin gaudere meaning “to rejoice.” In the midst of our waiting and expecting, the Church reminds us to rejoice. Although, like Lent, Advent is a penitential season, we are called to rejoice. Why? Because of what the season is pointing us towards — Christ. We rejoice because God took on human flesh 2000 years ago; we rejoice because Jesus will come again as the Lord of all and Judge of the living and dead at His Second Coming; and we rejoice because God draws near to us at this very moment.
The waiting in Advent is not meant to be an idle, passive waiting, but rather an active and intentional waiting, a waiting with joy and hope. Oftentimes Advent comes and goes without a thought in our minds because of the busyness of preparing for the Christmas holiday. For Christians Christmas is not just a holiday, it is a great feast, a solemnity, a whole season that celebrates the birth of Christ. During Advent we are meant to prepare our homes and our spiritual homes for Someone. Just as we clean our homes and make sure things are neatly placed and festively decorated when we have a guest coming over for dinner, we must do the same with our hearts and souls because Jesus is waiting to come into our hearts if and when we invite Him. Jesus is the source of our life, our hope, and our joy. Without Him, Christmas has no meaning. If we simply place our “Christmas joy” in the shopping for Christmas presents and the decorating of the home, then yes, once Christmas Day is over, we move on to the next holiday. BUT for us who believe, the joy of Christmas should not simply just come and go — the source of joy, Jesus Christ, endures in our hearts and minds. This joy remains us with wherever we go and whatever situation in which we find ourselves. But this can only happen if we have prepared our hearts for Jesus. How?
Do we carve our time everyday to pray? We do not need to make a holy hour everyday, but can we carve out 5 minutes to check in with Jesus? If not 5 minutes, how about 1 minute? Every second spent with Our Lord does tremendous wonders for our souls and the souls of those for whom we pray. Do we share our faith with others or do we shy away from sharing how God has worked in our lives? If Jesus is truly the source of our joy, why wouldn’t we want to share it with others? That is the most important present we can give to others this Christmas.
Brothers and sisters, in this final full week of Advent may we spend some time contemplating upon the source of our joy and how well we have prepared a home for Jesus in our hearts. If we haven’t, it is not too late to start today. Today may we practice to be present to the One who came to earth 2000 years ago, the One who will come again, and the One who draws close to us right now at this present moment. Blessed Gaudete Sunday to you.
