Today the Church recognizes Guadaute Sunday of the third week of Advent. “Guadaute”is derived from the Latin words “gaudium,” joy, and “gaudeo,” to rejoice or be glad. Our society teaches us that it is so easy not to be joyful in the world we live in. Oftentimes we have feelings that we think resemble joy, but are not to be confused with other emotions to be defined with the etymology of the word Joy. Joy comes from the Greek chara or Χαρά meaning calm delight or cheerfulness.
Personally & spiritually for me this Advent I have performed penitential acts of service the first two weeks of Advent pondering His second coming and being awake and alert. Recognizing my sins and human fragility and turning to the Lord God through Eucharistic adoration, family prayer time, lectio divina, the rosary, las posadas, cleansing of the clutter and monetary tithes during this season of Advent has awakened in myself a more joyful heart open to His wondrous incarnation and light of love. Through my reflection and spiritual re-awakening & renewal I came to realize the root cause of my sin. In pondering my past mistakes and thinking of myself as being a slave to sin & temptations by Satan made me believe I was not worthy of His grace, love & being made in His holy image. The other cause for falling into sin and lashing out at others was about my worries with a future I can’t control (anxiety) and not being more attentive to the present. Our life should be one of prayerful moments in which we see His radiant Joy working in us and through us and allow that joy to permeate our surroundings and those we encounter. From doing menial chores such as cleaning the toilet, to having a really bad day times two, can we allow a joyful heart to rule the day for it is not about the roadblocks & conditions of life that create or diminish a joyful heart and soul. The way in which one has a joyful heart and can always be smiling no matter what life throws our way is about choosing to be in harmony to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our life.
My niece will be baptized in the Church this week and she will share a baptismal birthday with my wife which is definitely a joyful coincidence. The white sport coat (symbolizing the white garment that I wore for my baptism for which we are made clean from the stain of original sin as a new creation) in conjunction with the pink or rose color of vestments worn seemed appropriate for the week. Plus another humorous and joyous guidepost was the experience of my daughter conferring with the sales lady in choosing pink since girls rock!
Life is fleeting (memento mori) and we can’t not have a heart of joy which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit working in us on this earthly journey. Let us prepare the way for the Lord as we recall His coming in which we can’t help but not repeat that everlasting sounding Joy!
Here are some biblical verses to reflect on from the New Catholic Answers Bible version:
Luke 15:7 “I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” Our sins are not too great for His Joy to rule.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
Isaiah 61:10 “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul, For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice…”
Mary’s Magnificat from Luke 1:46: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
Psalm 118 from the spiritual songs often sung in Vacation Bible School: “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Pax,
Eric
StreetEvangelist 