"He came to testify to the light"
John 1: 6 - 8, 19-28
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121320.cfm
I think one of the most beautiful things God has created is watching a little baby laugh. They may be responding to the smiling face of their parent, or maybe they’ve been tickled by a sibling, or maybe their older brother or sister has made a crumpled face and they respond with baby laughter. The very sound of it has an effect on us; we can’t help but smile or laugh ourselves. Normally, one might say: “Gee, what a happy baby.”
However, if one were to change the phrase a bit and say
to the parents, “You have a joyful baby” it may sound strange. The same would be true if we entered a room
full of adults’ in good laughter with smiles on their face. We might say, “They sure seem happy.” If we
changed it and said, “There’s a joyful crowd,” it sounds a bit odd, out of the
normal expression. Yet in the scriptures
we hear that when Mary visited her older cousin Elizabeth the baby in the womb
of Elizabeth “leaped for joy.” This Sunday we reflect on the great virtue of
joy that we often equate with laughter or happiness. Yet, our scriptures remind
us that “joy” is something much deeper and more lasting.
Yet our second reading from Paul’s letter to the
Thessalonians Paul invites his early converts to: “Rejoice always . . . give
thanks.” Isaiah the prophet speaks of “glad tidings” and to “rejoice heartily.”
It’s clear at this point in our Advent walk, as Christmas is nearly upon us,
that life may be tough and challenging at times but we can be joyful
nonetheless. Yet, how realistic is that
or is this just a kind of "pie in the sky" wish?
Whether we call it happiness or joy we all feel this year
of 2020 has given us anything but happiness.
Between global concerns of the virus, the American political judgements
and accusations, the many businesses that are challenged, schools closed with
children and youth being unfairly restricted, the controversial limitations on
houses of worship, and the endless legal challenges, what is there to be happy
about? We all just want it to end. With
effective vaccines on the horizon it gives some glimmer of hope but we’re not
there yet.
Yet, St. Paul was no naïve preacher out of touch with
reality or trying to be sarcastic. Jesus coming gave to humanity new hope
rooted in a fuller understanding of God. We should rejoice always because we
come to know that we are not just born into this world with no purpose. As
children of a loving Creator, whose heart is seen in Jesus, we are invited to
share in the same divine life that Jesus enjoys with his Father.
With God all things are brought together. The coming of Christ into the world meant, as
John the Baptist reminds us, one who will share his Spirit with us and reconnect
with humanity that had been separated by sin.
So, joy in the deepest sense means that all is at it should be if we
accept God’s proposal in Christ. To live by the blueprint of Biblical values as
members of his kingdom. The voice of John reminds us what is important and what
will bring us closer to God. As Isaiah reminds us in the first reading as well
to know that God will bring “glad tidings . . . healing . . . liberty” to those
forgotten.
It's not riches and power that bring true joy but knowing
that we are loved by God. Obstacles are removed and brokenness is healed. We see this in the ministry of Jesus – his
healing and teaching; his reaching out to the separated and shunned. In Christ
we know we are not abandoned or forgotten by God so our lives of faith can be
made the same. If we seek the good in
all things, to follow in his Way, we know we are right with God despite
opposition we might find, and all is balanced and as it should be. To know that is a call to go beyond emotion
which is happiness and to enjoy a deeper sense of connection with God which
brings Joy. If that is our conviction, then we are able to “rejoice
always.”
So, John the Baptist prepares us to hear this new
perspective. As long as the prophets spoke
among the people, they recognized the active presence of God among them. Although these prophets were all generally
treated badly by authorities, still the common people felt that the position of
a prophet of God was a significant sign of God’s faithfulness to his
people. But for hundreds of years before
the baptizer appeared, no one claimed that position.
John leads them through a process of elimination and
finally says, “I am not the Christ, the prophet Elijah or the Prophet” but his
purpose is to point to one greater and say in essence: “There HE is.” This voice, as St. Augustine
wrote, prepares us for the Word to come. This creates anticipation in the
people and sets the stage for Jesus entrance. Such an event must have filled
people with great joy hoping that now all things will be made right between
them and God.
Maybe this has not been an especially joyful year for
you. You’ve been juggling concerns about
health with limited finances. Humanity
across the world is uniquely united on the hope for something better in the new
year. Maybe adult children still haven’t
returned to the practice of their early Catholic faith or it has been a tough
year for grandparents and you’ve had to make some uncomfortable decisions about
caring for them. Maybe life has just
been more of a roller coaster than a smooth highway.
If we are convinced God lives among us and walks with us
in our joys and sorrows. As St. Paul implies today God is with us “in all
circumstances” we can rest in a joy rooted in God’s promise. This may be a time
to identify what is lacking in my spiritual life; that I really haven’t
connected much with God this past year.
I’ve gone through the motions but never took the time to seek more. I’ve done nothing but complain about politics
and been filled with fear.
The words of Pope Francis remind us of good news strong
enough to give us a reason for hope. In
his letter entitled The Joy of the Gospel our Holy Father writes: There
are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. I realize of course that joy is not expressed
the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great
difficulty. Joy adapts and changes, but
it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty,
that when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved.” (EG, # 6).
For he assumed at his first coming
the lowliness of human flesh,
and so fulfilled the design you
formed long ago,
and opened for us the way to salvation.
(From Preface I of Advent)
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