C: 3rd Sun of Advent (16 Dec 2018) - LASTING HAPPINESS AND JOY - Lk 3:10-18

This third Sunday of Advent is known as the Gaudete Sunday. The Latin word “gaudete” is taken from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon of today’s mass: “Gaudete in Domino semper… Dominus enim prope est” which is translated in English as “Rejoice in the Lord always… for the Lord is near at hand”. Our liturgy this Sunday alerts all Christians of the nearness of the coming of the Lord, hence, the need to be joyful in our waiting for Christmas.

This message of joy is also the constant reminder of the modern Yuletide celebration. The popular greeting “Merry Christmas!” underlines the cheerfulness at this time of the year. The figure of Santa Claus (an adaptation of the original Sint-Niklaas) who distributes gifts to children creates instant laughter and happiness to the usual melancholy fetched in by the winter season. Indeed, in a carol he jovially reminds all kids: “You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout I’m telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town”. However, the downside to this universal message of Christmas joy is that “Jesus Christ” along with his message of resiliency and patience is lost in the picture. Rather, it is Santa Claus who is arriving along with the fun he carries inside his red sack and reindeer-drawn-sleigh.

But our readings today remind us that it is Jesus who is coming to town. Our first reading declares: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness” (Zep 3:17). The second reading repeats, too, this invitation: “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything” (Phil 4:5b-6a). In the same breath, the Baptizer’s announcement in the gospel goes: “he who is mightier than I is coming” (Lk 3:16). On top of all these texts, there is one important element that should be highlighted in all our rejoicing… we rejoice because God will surely bring us socio-political harmony: “he has cleared away your enemies” (Zep 3:15) wherein “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7) but, in the process, the wicked “chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire (Lk 3:17)”.

Henceforth, our anticipation of the eschatological joy is not only limited to the afterlife when the good and the wicked would be separated between heaven and hell. Our advent joy is attached to the emancipating activity of our Lord Jesus today. Thus, Jesus is not a mascot, ala Santa Claus, who paints an acrylic smile into our faces that will soon fade away at the first moment of heavy rains. Instead, he is a God of liberation who desires that we seek and work for lasting peace, wherefrom lasting happiness and joy flow forth and become sustainable. And this thought/hope bring the true smiles, cheers and laughter of the season.

The general differentiation between happiness and joy is that the former is associated to the emotions of physical cheerfulness, while the latter is the spiritual satisfaction in life despite experiences of pains and sufferings. Because of its higher value, we prefer the latter. But, a true Christian should work for both happiness and joy. While “joy” in Greek is “chara” appearing 59 times in the NT, “happiness” is also expressed in the NT (50 times) with the word “makarios”—but is always affixed with the idea of blessedness in relation to God’s graciousness. The important thing is that we put into mind that it is Jesus who gives both joy and happiness, this same Jesus who is born on a cold winter night in a manger (Lk 2:7) but gave hope to all in the message of “peace on earth and good will to men” (Lk 2:10). May our happiness and joy be contagious as we both wear our smiles yet fight for lasting peace.

- Rex Fortes, CM