A Reminder to Rejoice
“Advent is not only a time of promise and preparation, it is a time to rejoice. The rejoicing we do is in great part a celebration of the initial fulfilment of the promise made: It is a living into the unspeakable mystery that has already occurred and which is at the heart of the season. The mystery is this: that God is born. Not only does this mystery speak to us of the inexpressible compassion of our God, who has entered intimately into history in order to participate fully in all that is most human, but it recalls for us that creation itself, especially the human person, has become the sacred locus of the encounter of the finite and the infinite. It is in the womb of the world that the radical promise of a new creation has been conceived, gestated, and born.” (Wendy Wright, The Vigil: Keeping Watch in the Season of Christ Coming)
The third Sunday of Advent we light the pink candle of Joy. It is a reminder to rejoice, as Wright tells us, in the incredible mystery of God’s infinite love born time and again in our finite bodies. This is an important perspective to remember especially in those times when it feels like there is little over which to rejoice.
There is a difference between being joyful and rejoicing and being happy. Happiness is more situational. I am happy when playing with (or like) a little child—laughing and giggling. I am happy when a friend calls and we go to lunch sharing laughter and reminiscing over the silly things we’ve done together. Happiness tends to be externally evoked based on other factors such as people, places, things, events.
Joy is more consistent, and is cultivated internally. It comes when you make peace with who you are, why you are and how you are in the world. Joy can be present is situations that are far from happy. For me, joy is that internal peace that passes all understanding, which Paul talks about in Philippians 4 (“Rejoice in all things…”).
The mystery of God’s love defies explanation. It requires acceptance and openness to the real possibility of being part of the fullness of God’s grace, mercy, hope and compassion in the world in which we live. We become co-creators with the Divine promise.
As Wright reminds us, “It recalls for us that creation itself, especially the human person, has become the sacred locus of the encounter of the finite and the infinite. It is in the womb of the world that the radical promise of a new creation has been conceived, gestated, and born.”
Advent blessings of deep, abiding joy!
Donna
Rev. Dr. Donna Patterson serves as Anam Cara Chaplain in Residence for Scarritt Bennett Center and directs the Center’s Soul Work program.