Second Sunday of Advent
Yesterday, I facilitated an Advent retreat. The retreat was titled, “The Seven Joys of Mary.” The inspiration for that title comes from one of the titles for Mary in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary – “Cause of our joy.” The church addresses Mary as the cause of human joy.
I am picking up the theme of joy again today because Advent scripture readings and prophecies anticipate the joy of the coming of the Messiah. For example, the prophet, Baruch says on today first reading: “…for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company” (Bar 5:9).
Here then is a brief reflection on the theme of biblical joy.
A lot of human experiences bring joy. Marriage, birth of a child, a sun rise, an eclipse, the chirping of a bird, even a bottle of wine. In Christian spirituality joy is God’s gift to humanity. This means that joy is integral to how human persons are created. God created human persons capable of experiencing joy. The world God created and the relationships God designed among people, with creatures and creation itself, are all meant to bring joy. In Christian scriptures, joy is called a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that was present at creation is the same Spirit that gives joy to Christians even now.
However, human life isn’t a joy-fest. Human and salvation history tells us that we live in a world that’s been corrupted by our own selfishness. It’s marked by death and loss, tragedies and tears, fears and anxieties, evil and sinfulness. But this is where biblical faith offers a unique perspective on joy. Joy is an attitude God’s people adopt, not because of happy circumstances, but because of their hope in God’s love and promise.
On the one hand, joy is God’s gift to humanity. On the other hand, Christian joy is a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ own life and love; a feeling of contentment and peace that is dependent on who Jesus is, rather than on who we are, or what is happening around us.
The messianic joy that is promised to us at Christs coming is not a magical erasing of the complexities of human life. Rather, God becomes one of us, embraces the complexities of human life. Jesus shows us how to navigate life with contentment, peace, and joy, because he put his hope and faith in his God. The gospels tell us that story.
Here are three questions I place before you, then, for your personal reflection.
What brings you joy? I am not talking about a happy moment. I am talking about the contentment and pace that you feel in your soul, in the deepest part of your being. For example, a true friendship…
How does your life mirror human history and salvation history? What are your truly human experiences that signify struggles, tragedies, tears, anxieties, grief? Where do you discover God in all of this?
Besides being a gift of God, “Christian joy is a profound decision of faith and hope in Jesus; a sense of contentment and peace dependent on who Jesus is rather than who we are and what is happening around us.” Just for a moment, see if you can shift focus to Jesus present amidst the complexity of your life rather than the complexity itself.
I would like to end this reflection with the words of St. Paul’s to the Philippians. Please know that Paul is writing from prison. Yet, he writes:
“I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the gospel
from the first day until now.
I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:4-6).
- Fr. Satish Joseph