Joy to the World!

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Third Sunday of Advent!

Is 35: 1-6, 10; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11

The third Sunday of Advent highlights that Christian joy is universal and can be universalized.

It is often said that joy is a relative emotion. What gives me joy cannot guarantee the same for another. However, the Gaudete Sunday – The Sunday of Joy – teaches that Christian joy is universal and can be universalized. The secret is well-explained in the readings. 

In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah lists out the miraculous things that will happen at the coming of the Lord. Everything will be restored and renewed. The Assyrian slavery will be over, and the misery of God’s people will come to an end at the coming of the Lord. They will be filled with joy. However, there is a precondition for experiencing joy. God’s people must find it through goodness and service. In other words, the prophet shifts their focus from a self-absorbed life to others who need their help. Thus, when God’s people empower the feeble, weak, and fearful with the good news of God’s coming, their joy will be doubled. Not only will they themselves experience the joy of God’s coming, but they will also help others discover theirs. Thus, what could have been merely a relative experience of joy for the Israelites at God’s coming will now be universalized by their evangelization. Being hopeful is to find one’s joy. Giving hope to others is helping others find theirs. Christian joy is doubled when we share our gifts with others. 

In the second reading, St. James advises his followers to be patient and to give up complaining about others. James was aware that when the Christian community was given to bickering and squabbling, the foremost work of proclaiming the Gospel of joy was greatly impeded. The disruption not only spoiled their joy but also prevented others from experiencing it. James is disappointed by the vicious consequences of their infighting and the scandal it was about to present. He wants the community to be patient until the coming of the Lord, when they will enjoy in fullness the real joy that only He can give. Thus, James wants them to give up petty-mindedness by focusing on the larger picture – the coming of the Lord and the assurance of joy.

The Gospel presents John’s doubt regarding Jesus’ identity and the clarification that Jesus offers. John began to have doubts about Jesus, the one for whose coming he was preparing the way. His question suggests that John expected a military-style Messiah but was surprised to find one who was compassionate, merciful, forgiving, kind, tender, and loving. However, Jesus chooses to answer John differently. He lists out what he does as proof of his messiahship. In other words, Jesus wants John to take his mission as his very identity. By his mission, Jesus gave God to others. The people experienced God’s presence in the person of Jesus. Those who followed him tasted the joy of God in and through Jesus’ healing, forgiveness, mercy, and love. Thus, what could have been merely a relative experience of joy is universalized by Jesus’ altruistic mission.

The readings of the day offer some challenging insights. 

1. Joy is found in service and goodness. The aroma of goodness spreads as we universalize our love and service. Have we ever been a witness to the truth? A quote reads like this: ‘So, it is Christmas. What have you done?’

2. A divided Christian community is a counter-witness to the Gospel message. When the invitation is to propagate love, we cannot lose sight of our mission by clinging to our selfish motives. A community of peace thrives in the joy of evangelization.

3. Jesus turns goodness into his very identity. Even amid rejection and disappointment, Jesus made no compromises in his mission to bring joy to others. Our vocation is complete in making others partakers of the joy that we ourselves enjoy. 

Let us pray that we may spread the Christian joy wherever we are and to whoever it is possible. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar