REJOICE!
Today we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of joy right in the heart of Advent. Every year, this Sunday catches us a little off guard. In the middle of all the rushing, preparing, planning, and the quiet worries we carry, the Church invites us to pause and rejoice.
Gaudete Sunday gives us a pause a pause from the busyness, from our worries, from our planning. In this pause, we can notice the presence of God and experience love, peace, and hope quietly at work in our lives.
The angels echoed this joy to the shepherds on that first Christmas night:
“Do not be afraid. I have come to bring you news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10) Even in the ordinary and the ordinary fears of their lives, the shepherds were invited to pause, listen, and rejoice. The same message reaches us today that joy is a gift that comes from God and is meant to be shared with all people. The church gives us many insights about this gift of Joy.
First, joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit cultivates joy alongside love, peace, patience, and kindness. This joy is not merely an emotional reaction but a reflection of God’s grace at work in us.
Second, joy comes from salvation. As the angels proclaimed, the birth of Christ is the “good news of great joy.” Our faith is centred on this gift, the reconciliation of humanity with God through Jesus Christ, offering forgiveness and eternal life.
Third, joy is deeply connected to community and fellowship. We’ve learned that joy grows when it is shared. A conversation after Mass, a familiar smile, a moment of laughter with someone who understands. These small interactions remind us that God often brings joy through the people around us. Sometimes, without even realizing it, another person becomes a gentle sign of God’s presence.
In the seminary where I am currently undergoing formation, we experience this every day. Every meal, and almost every moment with the brothers, is full of joy. Each one shares their own laughter, their stories, their smiles, and the table of our meals becomes a place of life and light. Sometimes a simple joke, a shared story, or a quiet word of encouragement can turn a normal moment into something unforgettable.
Fourth, joy is not absent in suffering. In fact, Christian joy often grows even in difficulty. St. Paul gives us a short but powerful reminder:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.” (Phil 4:4)
St Paul wasn’t writing them from comfort but rather, he wrote them from prison. And still, he found joy. Not because everything was going well, but because God was near. That joy is different. It’s not loud or fleeting. It’s deep, steady, and rooted in something far greater than circumstances. And if we’re honest, that is the joy we long for.
Through trials and hardships, we are invited to trust in God’s love and to find hope that transcends circumstances. Even when life feels heavy, God’s presence allows us to pause and find light in small moments, reassurance in prayer, and courage in the support of those around us.
Finally, joy is ultimately a response to God’s love. To know that we are unconditionally loved by God is to know a joy that reshapes our hearts. It’s not fleeting or shallow, but a deep-seated disposition that flows through our relationships, our actions, and our daily life.
Advent can become crowded with activity, and sometimes our hearts feel scattered or distracted. But Gaudete Sunday encourages us to slow down, to breathe, to unclench the parts of our hearts that have grown tight, and to make room again for God. It’s a moment to pause and reflect, to prepare our hearts intentionally for Christmas, not just as a holiday, but as the celebration of Christ coming into our lives here and now. In this pause, we encounter the love, peace, and hope that God offers, and we are reminded why joy is at the heart of our faith.
Joy comes not from achieving perfection, but from allowing God to draw close in the midst of our messiness, our hopes, and our longing, so that when Christmas arrives, we are ready to receive Him with hearts open and alive.
So as we journey together toward Christmas, let St. Paul’s words settle into our hearts:
“Rejoice in the Lord always.”
Not a shallow joy, but a deep and steady joy rooted in God’s presence.
A joy that grows in waiting.
A joy that deepens in community and in family.
A joy that expresses itself in love.
A joy we long for offered freely by a God who is already near.
May this Gaudete Sunday fill us with that quiet, resilient, grace-filled joy.
May it light our path toward Christmas and gently brighten the lives of those around us.
Article by Colin Arriola, Seminarian & HFC Guest Contributor