Today is called Rejoicing Sunday. The candle on the Advent wreath is pink, not purple like the other three Sundays of Advent. Its color expresses our joy at the nearness of Christ’s birth. Some people seem naturally cheerful; others more solemn or mournful by temperament. There is a story of a priest who always preached sorrowful sermons. His pastor once asked him to preach instead about St. Joseph, who was known for his cheerful disposition. The following Sunday, the priest began by saying that Joseph was a carpenter who spent much of his time making coffins, and so once again, the sermon turned into another sad tale!
Discovering God’s Real Face
As a child, I experienced God mainly as an enforcer of rules and a punisher of misdeeds. But as a young teenager, I had an experience of transcendence that remains vivid in my mind and heart even today. Time seemed to stand still. I was surrounded by—and filled with—an energy of complete peace and joy. I felt addressed by a warm and loving Presence that communicated, in a clear non-verbal way, that I was deeply and completely loved. What struck me most was that this love was unconditional. It is this God, this God of profound, unconditional love, who invites us to rejoice today.
The Spirit of Advent calls us to wait, to watch, and to open our hearts to the God who draws near not with punishment, but with tenderness and mercy. Advent is a season of holy longing, a time when we slow down enough to recognize the signs of God’s presence already among us. The pink candle of this Sunday reminds us that our waiting is not heavy or burdensome; it is filled with hope, anticipation, and quiet joy. As we prepare for the coming of Christ, Advent invites us to rediscover the God who delights in us, accompanies us, and desires our joy far more than our perfection.
Three Impressions About Happiness
1. Happiness Is Here and Now
We often convince ourselves that life will be better later: when we get married, have a baby, or have another child. Then we become frustrated because the children are too young, and we think we will be happier when they grow older. Later, we struggle with the teenage years and imagine that joy will come once that stage has passed. We may even tell ourselves that life will finally be complete when our spouse “gets their act together.” The truth is this: there is no better time to be happy than right now.
2. “If You Are Happy, Let Your Face Know”
Perhaps we could begin cultivating joy by taking a glance in the mirror and asking ourselves: Does my face look like the face of someone who has heard the Good News, namely, that I am loved unconditionally by God? Joy is not only felt; it is also expressed.
3. Joy Comes When We Create It for Others
Joy finds us when we actively seek to bring joy to others. If I go through life demanding that others carry me, rather than seeking to carry them; feeding off others, rather than feeding them; insisting that others meet my needs, rather than trying to meet theirs, then joy will remain out of reach, no matter how hard I try to manufacture good cheer. True joy arrives when I give myself in love.
[Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11]
