3rd Sunday in Advent: Yr. A

Joyful in Hope!

Today’s readings tell us about a bright future. “Joyful in Hope” is a Christian’s theme of life. The so-called ‘Second Isaiah’ presents to us a poem of joyful hope: 
 “Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, He comes with vindication.” Christians apply this prophetic vision of Isaiah to the future brought about by Christ, “God’s Anointed One,” who comes to be the light of the world.

Christian hope opposes despair, which often leads to the evil of suicide or just copping out. It opposes escaping from reality with hard drugs, abuse of alcohol, or excessive addiction to the pleas of modern life. Christian hope knows how to handle depression: You get on your knees, knowing that “over the world of stars, a loving father must reside,” [Ode to Joy by Beethoven]. A person without faith and hope would say: We all must die sooner or later. But a Christian knows about more to come, and stays tuned in.

The Christian joy and hope are profound and can exist amid difficulties. It is compatible with human pain, illness, failure, and contradictions. Christian joy and hope do not depend on changeable circumstances like good news, good health, peace and quiet, enough money in the family treasury, etc. While these are good in themselves, they cannot provide real joy and happiness. Jesus is the One to Come, who will give hope to those who suffer.

The foundation of Christian joy and happiness is being near Jesus. The joy of Advent and that of everyday life is that Jesus is very near to us. With Jesus, we find meaning in life. Therefore, the Christian carries joy and happiness within because he or she meets God in one’s soul in grace. When the soul is happy, it spreads happiness.

We could make life more pleasant for other people in little ways: a smile, a friendly remark, a word of praise, not making a great fuss over unimportant things that could be overlooked and forgotten. In this way, we can help to make life easier for the people around us. And we can help others find joy and hope, especially if this joy is founded in faith in the future to come hereafter.

As we await Jesus coming in glory, “let us be patient, and firm in heart,” St. James exhorts in the second reading. Any time I become hopeless, I stop being an Advent person!