“Rejoice Always!”

Third Sunday of Advent – B

Rejoice!    VERB: to feel or show great joy or delight.

What wonderful, joyful readings we have today!  On the day we light the Joy candle on our Advent Wreath, our first three readings remind us – Paul even commands us – to rejoice.  Be filled with joy in our God.  So, rejoice! 

In his Apostolic Exhortation: “Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of the Gospel” Pope Francis states: “The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. He also states that the Gospel is “A Joy Ever New, a Joy which is shared!”   So, Rejoice!

There are elements in this Gospel reading that also point to joy, but in less explicit ways.  First, the hopeful questions from the priests, Levites, and Pharisees demonstrate their belief that the promised Messiah would come.  We can rejoice because our Messiah did come.  God kept – and will continue to keep – promises.  So, Rejoice!

It is understandable that the Jewish leaders might wonder if the strangely dressed, charismatic, prophet-like figure – who after all was the son of a devout priest from the Jerusalem temple – was a candidate for the exalted role. What we know, though, is that many of these same folks failed to recognize the Christ when He was right in front of them.  Jesus did not match their preconceptions of who a Messiah would be. 

It occurs to me that the priests, Levites, and Pharisees were looking for a new version of Israel’s great prophets and kings of days gone by, but they were thinking too small.  We often do the same.  Over a half century ago, J. B. Phillips, in his book Your God Is Too Small, challenges Christians (and skeptics) to stop defining God in ways that make our Creator comprehensible to us and realize that God is greater than we can envision.  At a time when we wonder how the world will get through this pandemic or get past deep political and racial divisions, know that God can handle this.  Remember the words of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary: “For nothing is impossible for God!”  So, Rejoice!!

I also take comfort from how John answered the men who came to him.  John’s response indicates that he knew God’s purpose for him.  I believe many of us envy John’s awareness.  I have heard people say to me: “Father, I just wish I knew God’s purpose for me.”  I know that God has a purpose for me, and for you, but we lack John’s clarity and confidence.  God has a plan for each of us, including you.  If no one has told you that before, let me be the first.  Rejoice!  God, who made you in His image and likeness and loves you, has a purpose for you!

This may not be so easy a task for those suffering through this pandemic or for those who have lost loved ones to this virus.  But God has a purpose for all of us and for everything.  Our biggest problem is that we cannot trust God enough to show us what that is.  Or we are so focused on our own agenda to allow ourselves to find and see and feel the purpose.

Like Isaiah, rejoice heartily in the Lord.  Like Mary, let your soul proclaim the greatness of the Lord; let your spirit rejoice in God our Savior.  Like Paul, rejoice always!