The season of Advent is not only a time of waiting and preparation, but also a journey of conversion that leads us from the darkness of cold winter nights toward the light of the star of Bethlehem, from the sadness of those enslaved by sin to the joy of liberation brought by the Lord.
In the first reading of this Sunday of Joy (Gaudete), the prophet Isaiah tells us that joy extends over the whole creation and is of an eschatological nature: “They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.” (Is 35:2b)
If we study the Sacred Scripture, we see that joy runs through it like a red thread, like a sign of light coming toward us from the mists of time. In the Old Testament there are even several terms that designate joy, each with its own nuance. These words show that joy is not merely an emotional state, but a profound response to the presence and action of God. Thus, the people of Israel discover that joy springs from closeness to God, from his saving interventions, and from messianic hope: “Do not be sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh 8:10)
In the Book of Psalms, we read: “You put more joy in my heart than they have …” (Ps 4:8). The prophet Isaiah tells us: “You shall rejoice in the Lord; you shall glory in the Holy One of Israel.” (Is 41:16). The prophets speak of a joy that will embrace the entire people with the coming of the Messiah, a joy that will transform sorrow into praise and exile into return.
This promise is fulfilled fully in the New Testament. The angel announces to the shepherds “good news of great joy for all the people” (Lk 2:10), proclaiming God’s entry into history through the birth of Jesus. During his public life, Jesus reveals that true joy is born of the Father’s love, of obedience to the Word, and of communion with him: “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (Jn 15:11). In the light of Easter, this joy becomes the distinctive sign of those who have encountered the risen Christ.
The Apostles convey the same experience: the Gospel brings joy even amid persecutions, and Christian communities are described as being filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit: “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:52). For Saint Paul, joy is not an option but a command of faith: “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I say, rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). Joy constitutes a fruit of the Holy Spirit, an interior work by which God dwells in the hearts of believers: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace …” (Gal 5:22).
Thus, joy can rightly be called a leitmotif of Sacred Scripture: it accompanies revelation, sustains faith, and proclaims salvation. In fact, the whole of Christian life is a call to the joy that comes from God and is fulfilled in the encounter with Christ.
The theme of joy is also present in patristic writings. Saint Ambrose said that the Gospel itself is a “gospel of joy”: “Christ brings joy, not sadness.”
For Saint Jerome, the source of joy is the Sacred Scripture itself: “I love Scripture because it fills my heart with a joy greater than all the pleasures of the world.”
Saint Augustine is one of the most profound theologians of joy. For him, joy is inseparable from love, and true love is directed only toward God. He distinguishes between laetitia, natural joy that is fleeting, and gaudium, spiritual joy—the joy of truth—which is a gift of grace.
Saint John Chrysostom also affirms that joy is a fruit of love: “When the love of Christ is kindled in the heart, it gives birth to a joy that no one can extinguish.”
Of course, we have many reasons for joy in our daily lives. Usually, the feeling of joy is associated with positive aspects and events in our own lives and in the lives of those dear to us.
As a child, for me the greatest joy was the presence of my mother; and after she had passed away, her place was taken by our heavenly Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, called in the Litany of Loreto the Cause of our joy.
You have probably experienced that all the small and great joys of our daily life last for a time but then fade; they are therefore fleeting. Not to mention that in life we also face many difficulties, illnesses, and tragic events, such as the loss of a loved one, and many others. And yet, can we experience joy even in such circumstances? Yes, because the hardships of life are also passing, and in whatever situation we find ourselves, we are not alone. The One who accompanies us, supports us, suffers and prays together with us is Lord Jesus himself. He walks beside us, sometimes holding us by the hand, other times carrying us on his shoulders as the Good Shepherd. His constant presence in our lives brings us true and lasting joy: “But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (Jn 16:22)
On this Sunday of Joy, we are invited to deepen our personal relationship with God and to place our hope in his promise: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the world.” (Mt 28:20)
Sr. Teodora Dănescu SSS
