Happy Gaudete Sunday! Gaudete means “rejoice” in Latin. We rejoice this week because Jesus is coming soon. We will celebrate that Jesus, the Life (John 14:6), came to us through the Blessed Virgin Mary. We rejoice and thank Mary for her “yes”–her fiat. We rejoice and give thanks to God the Father for giving us the gift of His Son (cf John 3:16). We rejoice in Christ, the Light (John 14:6) who is coming into the world. We rejoice because we believe that Jesus came to us so that we might receive the gift of His abundant life here and now (cf John 10:10). We rejoice, like Isaiah in our first reading, that we who Christ ransomed– will one day receive salvation through Him: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The gifts of hope and peace that we focused on during the first part of Advent are necessary to help prepare our hearts to receive God’s joy. Reflecting on my own experiences, when I have felt a lack of hope and peace were the times I have felt less joyful. Conversely, I have been able to remain joyful even in times of trial and suffering when I have allowed Christ’s hope and peace to come to me in prayer. After all, being joyful is different than being happy. Happiness is usually an emotional reaction to pleasure. Joy comes from a deep sense that God is our “source of wisdom and freedom, of joy and confidence” (CCC 301).
Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, along with love, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, and self control (cf Galatians 5:22). These fruits are meant to be shared with others. When we have the joy of the Lord, we are called to spread our joy to others. It’s a gift that we can give any day of the year.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come and bring me Your joy. Prepare my heart to receive the gift of Your abundant life.