In this Advent season, we are preparing our hearts and focusing our minds on celebrating Jesus’ birth. His birth is like a multi-faceted gem, in that He came among us, that first “coming among us” allows Him to constantly come among us now, and it opens the door to His promise – that He will come again.
This weekend, the Church encourages a “joyful response” to Jesus’ birth, His presence, and His promise to return in glory. The word “joy” is at the heart of the Third Sunday of Advent (and all of Advent, really) … and even at the heart of the coming Christmas season. Joy, indeed, is the primary emotion at Christmas — we see it on children’s faces, in our decorations, and in our songs. But let’s remember that joy and happiness are not the same thing. In fact, we can be unhappy and joyful at the same time. Happiness is based on circumstances, but joy is independent of circumstances and it is the emotion of hope.
Joy, as the Bible understand it, is the firm assurance that God is in control of all the details of our lives. Joy is also the quiet confidence that, ultimately, everything is going to be alright. And joy is the determined choice to praise God in all things. Over the coming week (and well beyond), happiness and sorrow will be quite capable of coming and going … but joy will a choice for us to make each day. Will we trust that God is in control? Will we believe that everything, no matter what, will be alright? Will we find ourselves praising God – in all things?
