Homilies

3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT: REJOICE ALWAYS IN THE LORD!

REJOICE ALWAYS! The Third Sunday of Advent has been called the Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word, which means ‘rejoice.’ As Christmas gets closer, we are getting excited and joyful as well. The message of joy echoes in our readings today. In the First Reading, Isaiah sees the restoration of all Israel, of which many of them were exiled. And now they will be coming back to their homelands enjoying full security from the Lord. The Lord’s promises will be fulfilled. It is a year of favor where the spirit of God is given, glad tidings is proclaimed to the lowly, prisoners are released, God’s justice is used to repair the injured, and comfort is felt. In the Second Reading, St Paul expresses his joy by inviting the early Christian community in Thessalonica to always rejoice! Paul exhorts them to “pray without ceasing (and) in all circumstances give thanks.” Paul understood that joy is the fruit of the Spirit. It only comes from an inspiration from God. God who is always faithful to us will surely grant us the joy that we need. Let us now reflect on Christian joy, which is the theme of our celebration today.

Firstly, joy seems to be elusive. It is just timely that, while we prepare for Christmas, we are also being reminded to be joyful. But as we look around, there is hardly any joy we see. One person has said, “The world has a woeful shortage of joy and a surplus of fear, worry, discouragement, and depression.” More and more people are getting stressed and many are worried about their future.  Social problems like poverty, unemployment etc. remain a problem. We also look at the state of the family. For many Filipinos this would mean spending Christmas away from their loved ones. As more and more Filipino parents go overseas to search for better opportunities, many more children would be left behind. So, the children are longing to spend precious times with family members during the wonderful and joyous season of Christmas.

Secondly, joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is given to those who are blessed, even those who are not worthy of it. There is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an emotion, and God never intended the people to be in that emotional state all the time. In fact, there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Eccl 3:4). The feeling of great joy truly comes from Jesus himself. Jesus is the foundation of joy because He is the ‘pure joy”. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit”. And joy is among the fruits of this relationship.

Thirdly, let us reflect on what actually gives us deep and lasting joy. John the Baptist finds joy in serving our Lord, being the forerunner of Jesus. He is very much delighted in preaching and in testifying to Jesus. He finds joy in humility, not in arrogance. He rightly admitted that he was only “the voice of one crying out in the desert”. Thus, for John, humility is joy.

That is why when people pursue mere pleasure instead of true joy, they are climbing a ladder that’s leaning against the wrong wall. We can find them anywhere. There are people who appear to be successful in their jobs, but still they do not feel the joy. Their motive is only to acquire or get things. But it is a common mistake to think that getting something will make you happy. Joy and happiness come much more from giving and serving than from getting.

Christmas is fast approaching. By this time, we are looking forward to receiving gifts which will surely make us happy. But let us not forget that there is a higher reason to be joyful in this season: Jesus Christ himself. He is the greatest gift that God has given us. The salvation that He brings is always a cause for joy, in fact, the true joy. AMEN. 

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