Joy

Today’s first reading fairly sings with the joy that is the traditional focus of the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday).

The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song....

They will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:

Be strong, fear not!

Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed
will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;

they will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.

We may not feel the full presence of the Savior right now, but he is coming – indeed, he is already with us and all we need to feel the joy is the grace of God (for which we must always pray).