From The Desk of Deacon Judy

Rejoice!

This Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, we light the rose candle, the candle of JOY. This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday, for we are to REJOICE.

It seems so hard at times to rejoice when we are mired in our own personal grief or struggles, when we see a world torn apart by division and conflict, when we hear of humanity suffering from unceasing wars. Where is the joy?

We know that joy is not happiness. Happiness comes from external positive experiences. Joy is God’s gift of internal peace that settles in and calms even when our world seems to be falling apart.

In the midst of the current tragedy in their homeland, the clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem prepared an Advent Devotional Booklet, reflecting on the four themes of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Here is the reflection for the third Sunday of Advent.

Verse of the Day

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:4-6)

Reflection

Since the beginning of time, God created everything and created man to enjoy his creation, advising him to be altogether joyful,’ until the hour came for the heavens to announce the nature of the true joy with the coming of the only-begotten Son, granting through his Incarnation peace to our souls, declaring through his crucifixion the joy of resurrection and the salvation of humanity, and giving us the Holy Gospel, ‘the Good News,’ the source of our spiritual joy, love, and hope. The goal of the true believer is to constantly seek after the Kingdom: ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,’ which is ‘not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.’ In the midst of the painful events that we are witnessing today, the Apostle Paul, from behind the bars of oppression, pain, captivity, and injustice, calls us along with the Philippians to rejoice with him in the Lord at all times, because spiritual joy in Christ is one of the characteristics of the true believer. So, in order for us to live a true Christian life within the kingdom, we must embrace the commandment of heaven and rejoice with that spiritual joy all the time, despite everything. Joy is a heavenly gift, a breeze that caresses the sails of life, steering us away from the horrors of the night, the darkness of despair, and the loss of destiny, and anchoring us on the shores of true life, adorning us with the veil of the dawn of hope and expectation.

Prayer

In the midst of the horrors of this life that are ravaging us from every direction, we kneel before your glorious throne, gazing towards the heavens, with hearts exalted to You, O Lord, in prayers of thankfulness for the gift of joy that is the balm for our wounds, praying so that we might be worthy of Your eternal kingdom and always praying with invocation in everything and at all times to You, the source of all joy, peace, and contentment. Amen.

Advent Blessings, Judy Q+