One of my favorite Christmas carols is ‘Joy To The World’, it’s right up there with a few Polish ones. That is probably why I like the third Sunday of Advent as well, it’s Gaudete Sunday or better known as the Pink Candle Sunday. Christmas is around the corner, yeah!
Another favorite thing (These are just a few of my favorite things…) is this quote from St. Thomas Aquinas “Joy is the echo of God’s presence within us.” Now don’t get me wrong, I am no Pollyanna! Life has its challenges and at times we can allow our Joy to be stolen. (Perhaps by a modern-day Grinch!) I am sure you can think of the times you have allowed others to take away the joy you were experiencing…making a surprise for someone and it’s not appreciated; being criticized for doing something nice for another person; dealing with a stubborn individual who dampens your joy! I am sure you have other ways you allowed your joy to be taken away. The good news is you can recapture it.
How do I do that? I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately and I realized that Joy is not something we force ourselves to feel. It is something we experience, remember, receive, and allow to return. Often, joy slips away not because we have failed, but because life has grown heavy and our hearts have grown tired. When I feel like my joy has been lost, I find that doing something nice for someone even without them knowing lifts my spirits. Have you ever paid for someone’s coffee or their meal in the drive through line? I have and the look of surprise on the person’s face is enough to ignite more than a spark of joy.
Can you recapture the joy of a child? Simple things make them happy and joyful. Blowing bubbles, coloring, laughing out loud, just being a little silly and letting wonder not our head rule our lives at that moment. Someone once shared this idea with me create a “Joy memory list”, write down moments when you knew God was near — times of laughter, peace, answered prayer. Revisiting them reminds you: Joy has visited before, and it will again. Lastly as the quote says Joy is God’s presence within us and so pray not perfectly, but honestly. Name what has caused your Joy to leak out and begin to trust in God’s love for you. Joy does not demand perfection but openness. May we remember that joy is not lost forever. It waits patiently for our hearts to slow down, to trust again, and to receive the gentle presence of God.
May Joy be yours this week as we enter into the days before Christmas. Think about the things that make you joyful and do them while singing Joy to the World. Have a great week!
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
