‘GAUDETE’ CHALLENGE: CHOOSE JOY

December 13, 2020 
Third Sunday of Advent - B.

Readings: IS 61:1-2A, 10-11; LK 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; 1 THES 5:16-24; JN 1:6-8, 19-28.

An Arabic proverb says, “A good man is one who rejoices in the well-being of others.” And an Ivorian proverb adds, “He is a wise man who has no worries about the things he doesn’t have but he rejoices for those things that he has.”

The Christian life is a call to happiness through holiness. Cannot be holy, he who does not know how to rejoice or finds no reason in his life to rejoice about. The Lord wants us, his children, to be joyful and so fulfill our unique and real vocation, holiness. Though we may pass through times of sorrows and trials, the final aim of our life, our destination and goal is joy, that is the life with God, the beatitudes: “Rejoice and be glad.” (Mt 5:12)

At this third step of our Advent pilgrimage, the liturgy reminds us of this need to rejoice. That is a call to live our daily existence in joy and with joy. This call is made more explicit by St. Paul at the start of the second reading. Addressing the Christian community of Thessalonica, the Apostle of the Gentiles says with an imperative voice: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” God, says the Apostle, has created us not for a life of sorrow, tears, and grievances, but joy. He wants us to be always happy. That is his will and his purpose in our lives. Therefore, no matter what we may go through, no matter the situations and circumstances that come our way, Paul says, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God…” Joy is our vocation, just like holiness. Moreover, our joy is made reasonable when we think of the great hope that sustains us: the soon coming nativity of our Lord and Savior. We are, from today, one week away from Christmas. Christ is coming to bring great joy to the world through his birth in human likeness.

The Psalmist can therefore not refrain from singing, “My soul rejoices in my God” (Is 61:10b). For, Christians, as we mentioned ahead, are called to be cheerful people. Their happiness, nevertheless, means not that they have no trials, problems, misfortunes in their life. Let us not forget that the true identity of the Christian is the cross, which means coronation of trials. The Christian, instead, is happy because he finds the real meaning of his life in Christ Jesus. Rich or poor, weak or strong, sick or healthy, we must find always a reason to give thanks to God, thus, Paul says, “In all circumstances give thanks…”

The application of this exhortation can be obvious: there is this COVID 19 pandemic that plunges the whole world in sorrows and uncertainties of tomorrow, give thanks to God. There are the political and social crises and the many conflicts in our societies, be positive-minded, and give thanks to God. There are the effects of the natural calamities and environmental crises that sadly affect and endanger our lives, give thanks to God. Find always a reason to praise God and rejoice. Because the genuine Christian is one who has understood that true happiness and joy flow from the contented heart.

The prophet Isaiah, in the first reading, reminds the people of God how to reach that perfection of joy. It is all about giving to the needy a cause to rejoice. Happiness flows from the heart that makes others happy. The Servant of God sees as his assignments: preach the good news to the poor, comfort the brokenhearted, release captives and free prisoners, transform ashes into beauty, sorrows into joy, despair into praise. We learn from this prophecy that true joy comes from selflessness. Those who live in selfishness close themselves into the perpetual prisons of unsatisfactions leading them to unending sorrows. On the other hand, selfless people find their joy and the meaning of their lives in sharing happiness.

The image of selflessness is well presented in the Gospel. It is incarnated by John the Baptist. The Prophet John is one who finds his joy in leading people, not to himself, but another greater than him. In the words of John, we hear the fulfillment of his joy, that is to accomplish his mission: “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” John the Baptist’s joy comes from his humility, his spirit of contentment, and his simplicity of life. While the people were running to him, taking him for the Messiah, John humbly and joyfully admitted: “I am not the Christ… I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.’” He is just the voice and that is enough for him. Like John, would we be able to find our joy in others’ joy and fulfillment?

We live, unfortunately in a world made of so many concurrences. Everyone seeks fame, honor, and glory. Everyone will like to be acknowledged and praised. And we are jealous when others seem to increase in fame while we are classed in the unknown. As we are moving closer to the Nativity of our Lord, may we learn from John the Baptist and the Servant of God how to rejoice in the joy of others. Let us not nourish jealousy nor hatred because of our neighbor’s success but in everything give praise to God. May genuine joy be our challenge today: “Rejoice and be glad!” (Mt 5:12).