Rejoice always. (2Thes 5:16).

13 Dec 2020. 3rd Sunday Advent (Gaudete Sunday), Cycle B-2021. Is 61:1-2a, 10-11 + 2Thes 5:16-24 + Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

JOY is merry and jolly, cheerful and gleeful, vibrant and exuberant, satisfied and gratified. It is like a vine with branches of feelings—the more the feelings, the lusher the joy.
JOY is living water welling inside, a gift of the Holy Spirit. In abundance, it pushes up, but down low it could be pumped out. It is less an emotion that oozes, but more a decision one chooses.
JOY is fire that fuels happiness. Without joy, happiness bubbles not. It is a foretaste of heaven’s bliss, the complete joy the Father lavishes to His child.
JOY is the fruit of a love sown as seed nurtured by prayer to God. He who sows love abundantly reaps joy abundantly.
JOY is inner peace that surpasses all understanding. Worry-free despite adversity, the child trusts the Father’s assured immunity.
“You shall pass through raging fire yet you burn not. You shall cross flood water yet you drown not.”
“In the world you’ll have trouble, but fear not,” the Son assured, “I have conquered the world.”
REJOICE in the Lord always, you child of God. Enjoy Him at all times, praying with thanks, for in the Lord true peace is yours to keep.
Sing out and leap up with joy, you who found God. In the world you find void, but, in God you find joy. VSS

Picture credit: Picture of joy. From Focus on the Family