3rd Sunday of Advent 15.12.13 Rejoice always
Today we are exhorted to be joyful at all times (epistle). We would, at first reaction, say that was very difficult when there is so much wrong with the world, and each of us would confront many difficulties at the personal level.
It becomes easier to understand this instruction if we see different levels of joy/happiness.
We can say we rejoice always insofar as the basic truths we believe in are always in place. For example, that God is always the same; that Christ has died for our sins; that He has risen in glory; and that He is coming back to complete His saving work.
These things are true and always true, no matter what else happens. This gives us security that enables us to keep a constant joy (aligned with hope).
On a surface level we always have some emotional turbulence but deep down we are always happy.
Rejoicing all the time does not mean we should never experience sadness, disappointment, grief etc. These things are inevitable insofar as so many things are not as they should be.
We cannot (and should not) ignore the suffering of others – either physical or spiritual. People are being murdered, tortured, abused. Worse still, people are living in sinful ways and in danger of hell.
Being joyful all the time does not mean we have to say that everything is just fine.
We can acknowledge whatever is wrong but then we bring to bear our faith, hope, joy, charity and all related virtues to fix the problem, or at least make things better than they otherwise would be.
So we set about fixing things. What is not already joyful we will make it so, or give everything to the attempt.
We find it is not easy to make everything as it should be. The victory of Christ has been achieved but it is not like a military victory where the winner marches in and takes over.
Christ has taken over but He wants to win voluntarily rather than compel the minds and hearts of every person. He will not come unless He is welcome.
The battle is fought at that level. He could easily win by physical force, but because He is trying to save people it is much more complicated. And a lot harder for us.
It is hard to convert even one person let alone the whole world. And while there are unconverted people around there is a lot of sin and strife in the world – which in turn makes it a harder world to live in.
We are still in the heat of the battle. We look forward to the reward but right now we are in the thick of it.
We fight the battle, not by physical force, but by the witness of our lives (cf John the Baptist) to the grace of God working within us. We must live good lives at all times, no matter what happens around us.
We do not change sides by abandoning our faith. So many Catholics lose their faith simply finding the going too hard.
They might trade the more mature Christian joy for the fleeting joys of worldly pursuits.
Or they might sink into inactivity through feeling overwhelmed.
Calling on our reserves of joy we will always have the energy to continue the battle, that is, to give witness of our faith.
The more fully each of us takes hold of the truth the stronger the Church becomes and the more easily we will convert people.
May the Lord sustain us now and till the end, when our joy will be complete and every tear wiped away.
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