Dun Mikiel Attard recounted that once, during a ferry trip to Sicily, he found himself speaking with various people and asked them this question: "What is joy?" One man, who was drinking a bottle of beer, jumped in and replied, "Joy is drinking beer," and began guzzling it. But after a short while, a storm arose, and many began feeling seasick, including the man who had been drinking beer. Dun Mikiel said he felt tempted to ask him, "And now, where has your joy gone?"
Today, we lit the rose candle, the third one of Advent: rose is the colour of the first light that appears on the horizon before sunrise, signalling that the day is near. This Sunday is meant to show us that the Lord is truly close. It is the Sunday of joy, a theme that appears prominently in today’s readings. It is very important for us to ask ourselves: Do I feel joy in my life or about my life? And where am I seeking or expecting to find my joy?
The prophet Zephaniah, whose words we heard in today’s first reading, invites God’s people and us to have an authentic experience of God’s love, making God the principal reason for our joy: “Shout for joy, Daughter of Zion; sing joyfully, Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, Daughter of Jerusalem!... The Lord, your God, is in your midst… He will renew you in His love…” Thus, the reason for the joy of God’s people is that the Lord is in their midst. What do I imagine could bring me true joy—God or the world?
In the second reading, St Paul tells us: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice!” He offers some advice to help us find true joy: “Do not be anxious about anything.” What are you worried about? If we are honest with ourselves, we often find that our worries stem from an excessive attachment to worldly things, such as money, material possessions, or even our own image. St Paul tells us that excessive anxiety about worldly matters often indicates an unhealthy attachment to them, which can harm our most cherished relationships—with family, friends, and even God. He gives us the remedy we need to heal or avoid this sickness: “In every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” How much good it would do us if we were to present our needs to God in prayer, but above all, learn to thank Him. Those who practise gratitude train their minds to focus on the positive rather than the negative. Negativity is a temptation we must fight because it leads us to lose trust in God and our joy.
In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist warns his listeners to repent. Having true joy does not mean living in the false illusion that everything is perfect and that we never make mistakes or sin. True joy comes from an honest and sincere acceptance of ourselves—that we have both good and bad in us, that we do good but sometimes fail, and, above all, that God loves us and, through the power of His Son Jesus, wants to free us from the power of evil. This is true freedom—the freedom of the heart—that only God can give, and it brings true joy. Above all, true joy is born of the humility that led John to say: “One is coming after me who is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” Let us ask ourselves: Where am I seeking my joy? How much do I believe that only God can give me what my heart truly desires? How much do I appreciate what God has done for me and thank Him for it? Am I humble enough to accept that I, too, need to repent and become a better person?
We pray to You, Lord, open our eyes to realise how much we truly need You, and that without You, our hearts remain empty. Help us in these final days before the great celebration of Your birth to find time to reflect on ourselves and our relationship with You. Grant us the grace of a good confession that will allow us to taste the true joy that only You can give. Amen.