Weekly Readings
- Isaiah 35:1–6, 10
- Psalm 146:6–10
- James 5:7–10
- Matthew 11:2–11
3rd Sunday of Advent
Joy in the Midst of Waiting
The third week of Advent, traditionally called Gaudete Sunday, invites us to rejoice even while we are still waiting. The rose candle on the Advent wreath reminds us that the Lord is near, and that Christian joy is not shallow cheerfulness, but a deep confidence that God is at work—even in our struggles. As you pray through this week’s reflections, allow yourself to name the blessings, big and small, that God has given you. Ask for the grace to rediscover joy in your vocation, your family, your parish, and the ordinary moments of each day. Joy grows wherever gratitude and trust take root.
Reflection 1: The Choice to Rejoice
Devotional
Life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them. Maybe you’re facing a difficult diagnosis, struggling with a relationship, or watching the news with growing concern about the world around us. In these moments, the idea of rejoicing can feel not just difficult, but almost insulting to our pain. Yet here’s a profound truth: joy isn’t dependent on our circumstances. It’s not about pretending everything is fine or putting on a fake smile. Instead, joy is a decision – a choice we make regardless of what’s happening around us. This choice isn’t made in our own strength. It’s rooted in something much deeper than our feelings or situations. When we choose joy, we’re choosing to anchor ourselves in the unchanging reality of God’s love and presence. We’re declaring that our temporary struggles, no matter how real or painful, don’t have the final word over our lives. Think about it this way: happiness depends on what happens to us, but joy depends on what happened for us through Jesus Christ. That reality never changes, regardless of our circumstances. When we grasp this truth, we discover that joy isn’t just an emotion we hope to feel someday – it’s a decision we can make today. This doesn’t minimize your struggles or suggest they don’t matter. Rather, it offers you a lifeline in the midst of them. You have the power to choose joy, not because everything is perfect, but because you serve a God who is.
Scripture
“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Nehemiah 8:10,
Reflection Question
What circumstances in your life right now are making it difficult to choose joy, and how might viewing joy as a decision rather than a feeling change your perspective on those situations?
Quote
But yet joy is a decision that a Christian is called to make.
Prayer
Lord, help me to understand that joy is not dependent on my circumstances but on Your unchanging love. Give me the strength to choose joy today, even when life feels overwhelming. Remind me that my struggles are temporary, but Your presence with me is eternal. Amen.
Reflection 2: The Source of True Joy
Devotional
Have you ever noticed how the things that bring you the most happiness often fade quickly? That new purchase loses its excitement, the vacation ends, the good news becomes old news. We live in a world that promises joy through temporary pleasures, but these joys are like morning mist – beautiful for a moment, then gone. True joy operates on an entirely different level. It’s not manufactured by external circumstances or fleeting experiences. Instead, it flows from love – specifically, our love for God and the spiritual realities that never change. When you love someone deeply, their presence brings you joy regardless of the setting. A couple celebrating their 50th anniversary finds joy not in fancy restaurants or expensive gifts, but simply in being together. Their love has created a wellspring of joy that external circumstances can’t touch. This is how spiritual joy works. When we love God and the eternal truths He represents – His faithfulness, His mercy, His promises – we tap into a source of joy that runs deeper than any temporary pleasure. This joy doesn’t depend on getting what we want or having everything go our way. It depends on loving what is eternally good and true. The beautiful thing about this kind of joy is that it’s available to you right now. You don’t have to wait for your circumstances to improve or your problems to be solved. You can experience this deeper joy today by focusing your love on the God who never changes and whose love for you never fails.
Scripture
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16
Reflection Question
How has your understanding of love’s connection to joy changed your perspective on where you seek fulfillment, and what spiritual realities do you find yourself loving more deeply as a result?
Quote
St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that joy comes from love. Joy, in fact, is caused by love, by the love that we have for this deeper spiritual good.
Prayer
Father, help me to love You and Your eternal truths more deeply. Show me how to find my joy not in temporary pleasures but in the lasting reality of Your love. Fill my heart with the kind of love that produces unshakeable joy. Amen.
Reflection 3: Surrendering Your Anxieties
Devotional
Anxiety has a way of stealing our peace and robbing us of joy. We lie awake at night replaying conversations, worrying about tomorrow’s challenges, or feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities we can’t control. The weight of these concerns can make joy feel impossible. But here’s what many people misunderstand about dealing with anxiety: the solution isn’t to ignore our worries or pretend they don’t exist. That’s not healthy or realistic. Instead, we’re called to do something much more powerful – surrender them to God. Surrendering doesn’t mean becoming passive or irresponsible. It means acknowledging that while we can do our part, we can’t control every outcome. It means choosing to trust that God’s will and timing are better than our own, even when we can’t see the bigger picture. When you surrender your anxieties to God, something remarkable happens. The burden shifts from your shoulders to His. You’re no longer carrying the weight of trying to control everything. Instead, you’re free to focus on what you can control – your response, your attitude, your trust in God’s goodness. This surrender creates space for joy to flourish. When you’re not consumed with worry about things beyond your control, you can appreciate the blessings that are right in front of you. You can rest in the knowledge that God is working, even when you can’t see it. Today, what anxieties are you ready to surrender? What worries are you willing to place in God’s capable hands?
Scripture
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
Reflection Question
What specific anxieties or worries are you holding onto that you need to surrender to God, and what would it look like practically to trust Him with these concerns?
Quote
The way to choose not to be anxious is not by ignoring our anxieties, by ignoring our frustrations, by ignoring the things that burden us, but by choosing instead to surrender them to the will of Almighty God.
Prayer
God, I surrender my anxieties and worries to You. Help me to trust in Your perfect will and timing, even when I can’t understand Your ways. Replace my anxiety with Your peace and fill the space with genuine joy. Amen.
Reflection 4: The Joy of Serving Others
Devotional
When we’re stuck in our own problems, everything can feel overwhelming. Our challenges seem insurmountable, our pain feels unbearable, and joy seems like a distant memory. It’s during these times that we often make the mistake of turning further inward, focusing even more intensely on our struggles. But there’s a surprising antidote to this downward spiral: serving others. When we step outside of our own concerns and do something kind for someone else, something beautiful happens. Our perspective shifts, our problems seem more manageable, and joy begins to return. This isn’t about ignoring your real needs or pretending your struggles don’t matter. It’s about recognizing that love – expressed through acts of kindness – naturally produces joy. When you help a neighbor, encourage a friend, or volunteer for a cause you care about, you’re participating in the very thing that creates joy: love in action. There’s something almost magical about this principle. The person who seems to have the least often gives the most. The individual facing their own challenges finds strength by helping others face theirs. It’s as if God designed us to find our own healing through helping others heal. This doesn’t require grand gestures. Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness – a phone call, a meal, a listening ear – can transform both the giver and receiver. When you’re feeling stuck in your own funk, look for someone you can serve. You might be surprised how quickly your own joy returns. Who in your life could use an act of kindness today?
Scripture
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:40
Reflection Question
When you think about times you’ve served others during your own difficult seasons, how did those acts of kindness affect your own sense of joy and perspective on your problems?
Quote
If you find yourself in a funk, and we all get in that way sometimes because we become so focused on our own problems, our own anxieties, our own worries that if you’re really. If you’re going through that, do something for someone else, find a way to do some act of goodness, some act of kindness, and you’ll be able to kind of get out of your own self.
Prayer
Lord, when I’m focused on my own struggles, help me to look outward and see how I can serve others. Use my acts of kindness to bring joy not only to those I serve but also to my own heart. Show me opportunities to love others today. Amen.
Reflection 5: Your Liturgical New Year
Devotional
When did you last take time to truly thank God for what He’s given you? Not just a quick prayer before a meal, but a genuine moment of reflection on His goodness in your life? If you’re like most people, it’s probably been too long. We live in a culture of comparison, constantly measuring our lives against others. Social media feeds us a steady diet of everyone else’s highlight reels, making our ordinary moments seem inadequate. This comparison trap steals our joy faster than almost anything else. But gratitude is the antidote to comparison. When you focus on what God has given you rather than what others have, your perspective transforms. Suddenly, you’re not lacking – you’re blessed. You’re not behind – you’re exactly where God wants you to be. Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is perfect or ignoring real challenges. It’s about recognizing that even in difficult seasons, God’s goodness is still present. Maybe it’s in the friend who calls at just the right moment, the strength you find to face another day, or simply the breath in your lungs. When you approach God with thanksgiving, something beautiful happens. Your heart opens to receive His joy. You stop focusing on what’s missing and start celebrating what’s present. You quit comparing your behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel and start appreciating your own unique story. This gratitude becomes a pathway to joy because it reminds you of God’s unfailing love. Every good gift in your life is evidence of His care for you.
Scripture
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Reflection Question
What are three specific things you can thank God for today that you may have been taking for granted, and how might regularly practicing gratitude change your overall outlook on life?
Quote
When was the last time we really thanked God for all that he has given us?
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I’ve focused more on what I lack than on what You’ve given me. Help me to develop a heart of gratitude that sees Your goodness in every season. Replace my tendency to compare with a spirit of thanksgiving. Amen.