“I will greatly rejoice…my soul shall be joyful in my God…” (Isaiah 61:10)

On this Gaudete Sunday of Advent we are called to “Rejoice!” During this holiday season we hear carols about joy and songs of good cheer. Given the staggering challenges that surround us these days, finding our joy grooves may be a difficult task. It’s easy sometimes to confuse joy with merrymaking, but joy is so much more.

Joy is not bubble-head happiness that depends on what happens. Joy comes from within our hearts – sometimes deep within when when tough stuff pummels our hope to oblivion.

 “Joy is the noblest human act.” St. Thomas Aquinas

Joy does not mean pain-free living, but does not let pain drive us to darkness. Joy chooses to follow the Light, even when it’s hard at times to see the dimmest flicker.

Joy believes in God’s mercy and grace. Joy heals. Joy endures. Joy perseveres.

Joy finds value in the rubble of decimated lives, because those lives are valuable. Joy comes from a well of Love transported on wings of compassion that lift up the brokenhearted.

Joy finds & waters roses in the rubble of our lives with extra doses of hope and love.

At the end and beginning of each day, joy is a choice.

“Joy is not simply a matter of temperament. It is hard to be joyful – all the more reason why we should make it grow in our hearts. Joy is prayer; joy is strength; joy is love; joy is a net of love by which we catch others.” Mother Teresa (Saint Teresa of Calcutta)

Joy comes in all shapes and sizes, and Joy is what this season of Advent is all about.

Light coming into darkness. Sacrificial Love incarnated. Emmanuel, God-with-us.

Joy is possible, because Jesus Christ is.

grace, peace & JOY

Virginia : )

“Is my joy based on circumstances, or is my joy based on something within that no one can take from me or give to me?” Richard Rohr, OFM