Gaudete Sunday: The Third Sunday Of Advent--J.o.y. Is Jesus, Others, You.

Today is Gaudete Sunday. “Rejoice (Gaudete) in the Lord always,” we hear in our Second Reading.

The United States was founded to give people the right to pursue happiness; the Gospel invites people to receive the gift of joy.

J.O.Y. is Jesus, Others, You.

In Philippians 4, St. Paul says “rejoice always” while he was in prison, adding, “stop worrying about anything and pray!” He did not say, "God, why did you allow this? It does not make sense. All I ever wanted to do was to serve you." How did he do it? Paul isn't putting his head in the sand to avoid harsh realities; he's reminding us to put our heads in the clouds.1 "The Lord is near," this is the secret of his serenity. Paul knew that God was with him. The key to that joy is found "in the Lord."

Nehemiah 8:10 says “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy also comes from concentrating on the needs of others. Self-forgetfulness is the key to living a happy life. Being totally self-absorbed leads to unhappiness. For example, one kid said to Santa, “Now that you’ve taken my order, can you give me a tracking number?”

Christmas cards, which once were sent to wish others peace on earth, goodwill, and blessings of the season, are now often serving more commercial purposes. I love the story about an apartment building in New York City. It was early in December when all the residents awoke to find a greeting card taped to the outside of their apartment doors. The cards read, "Merry Christmas from the custodial staff." "Well, isn't that nice," one of the new residents thought to herself. "What a lovely, caring staff we have at our service." Then she promptly forgot all about the card. A week later, she came home from work to find another card taped to her door. This one said, "Merry Christmas from the custodial staff. Second notice."2

In the book, “The Happiness Project,” the author presents an insight into the nature of true joy. She writes: Generous acts strengthen the bonds of friendship, and what’s more, studies show that your happiness is often boosted more by providing support to other people than from receiving support yourself.

However, we cannot love our neighbors unless we are open to being loved by our neighbors by accepting social invitations.

Joy also comes from yourself.

Your set range of happiness is based somewhat on your biological parent’s level of happiness. Wealth has a surprisingly low correlation to happiness because the less fortunate in life are generally just as happy as others with more money. Only extreme poverty can make people less happy.

If someone suffers from depression, hearing to “rejoice always,” may spur the reaction: “I don't like being told what to feel.”3

A powerful verse is Philippians 3:10, which speaks of St. Paul wanting “to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.”

Paul terms “the fellowship of Christ’s suffering” to a communion with Christ in suffering, of fellowship with and for the Body of Christ, and others. There is meaning.

Professional medicine can get us to think of suffering in only in terms of a scientific mechanical model. E.g., We now know that depression or this illness is caused by X, Y or Z. But this is different than moral intentionality.4

Paul’s knowledge is not something Paul possesses as information. It is the knowledge of personal experience. The kind of experience that can be defined in terms of resurrection power and fellowship. We all want resurrection power. The secret is that it comes from the fellowship in a sharing in Christ’s suffering and crucifixion; a process of being shaped, conformed to Him.5

We are called to have a particular aversion to the use of memory which shuts out the future. This use of memory shows a distrust of the mercy, power, and love of God. Our present suffering is not the final story of our lives. It is a suffering with one who also triumphed, so there is hope.6

To re-narrate suffering, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help a lot. It works by aligning thoughts and beliefs with the truth of reality. Holding onto two realities at once: one’s cross with Christ and resurrection and peeling away layers: Not being afraid of being ourselves anymore.

We also must recognize thoughts that rob our peace. We must disappropriate evil thoughts. Recognize that some come from Satan. Reject or simply ignore them. Practice custody of the mind.

Joy can be continuous if not interrupted by sin.

Aerobic exercise is also key to increase endorphins and serotonin levels in our brains, which function to sooth and aid in our feeling of well-being.

The temperate person does not shun all pleasures, but only those that are immoderate, sinful and thus contrary to reason.