Growing Joy

Growing Joy

I have to tell you, this Sunday is one of my favorites. And I wish I could tell you that it’s completely for
some really deep, spiritual reason…and, partially, it is. It’s also partially because, the color for the Third
Sunday of Advent is… pink. My favorite color.

However, the other reason it’s one of my favorites is because it challenges and reminds me of
something that, although super-important to our faith, I sometimes forget. The third Sunday of Advent
is sometimes called “Gaudete” or “Rejoice” Sunday. In the first reading alone, we hear all about
rejoicing, “Shout for joy!” “Sing joyfully!” and “Be glad!” And it doesn’t slow down in the Psalm or the
2nd Reading either, “Cry out with joy and gladness!” and “Rejoice in the Lord always!”

If you’re having a bad day, when you hear these readings, they might annoy you. Oftentimes, in our
lives, when difficult things happen to us, it’s easy to feel sad, discouraged, and alone. Whether we’re
struggling with “smaller” problems, like having a hard time in a class or breaking up with a significant
other or huge problems like divorce, a serious illness or death of a loved one, it’s very easy to become
depressed about the situations we find ourselves in.

But, as Christians, we’re called to be joyful! What does this really mean, though? What does it mean
to “be joyful,” to “rejoice?” Especially when we’re going through hard times, how could we possibly be
joyful? This is the challenge of our faith – to understand the difference between happiness and joy. It’s
easy to confuse the two, and think that they’re the same thing. But in reality, they’re very different.

Happiness is a feeling of gladness that is based on external circumstances. For example, when you
get a good grade on a test, or get asked out by that person you’ve had a crush on, or even have your
favorite kind of ice cream, you feel happy. Happiness is certainly not a bad thing! In fact, it’s a great
thing to be happy. Unfortunately, because it’s also based on external things, happiness can easily be
lost. Sometimes all it takes is one thing going wrong, and POOF! – There goes your happiness.

Joy on the other hand, is a sense of contentment and cheerfulness, based on something that cannot
change or be taken away: God’s unconditional love and faithfulness. The 2nd reading tells us to have no
anxiety and to be filled with God’s peace. That’s what “joy” is! When we choose to be “joyful,” it doesn’t
matter what circumstances are going on around us, good or bad, we know and trust that God loves us
and will care for us. And that deep sense of peace brings true joy to our hearts, even in difficult and
painful times in our lives.

It’s easy to be “happy” when things are going great…it’s a lot harder to be “joyful” when it feels like your
world is crashing in on you. But, like love, “joy” is a choice you can make. “Joy” chooses to trust God
and be at peace, even when you don’t understand or like what’s going on. One of my favorite quotes
is “Gratitude is the seedbed of joy” (Peter Kreeft). Basically, it means that, when you make a conscious
effort to be grateful for all the ways God has blessed you, you realize how much He loves you, and that
realization leads to true and unshakeable joy. Thankfulness is the key. And what better time, as we

prepare to receive the greatest gift of all, our Savior, this Christmas, to take some time to think about
everything you have to be grateful for? For the next few nights, thank God for at least one blessing you
received that day…and don’t be surprised if “joy” is soon to follow.