Have you ever questioned how True Joy in the Lord can be compatible with taking up your cross as a Christian? Have you ever despaired of being able to “Choose joy” just because everybody tells you that’s what you are supposed to do? Have you ever simply wondered what Joy in the Lord looked like exactly? If so, I thought I would share these points from last Sunday’s sermon that gave me great hope and consolation! I pray this renewed understanding of true joy as it is meant to be will bless you as much as it has me.
Sermon notes: St. Philip Neri Chaplaincy, South Burlington, VT – Gaudete Sunday – 12-17-’23
Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. – Phillipians 4:4
Joy is characteristic of Gaudete Sunday even though Advent is penitential.
How is this possible?
Because joy is not incompatible with penitence or waiting.
Today we are looking at 4 characteristics of true joy from Thomas Aquinas’ commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians.
Firstly, it is helpful to note that anyone who desires to make spiritual progress MUST have spiritual joy. You cannot advance in holiness without joy. If you are struggling with joy, it is a key sign that something needs to be addressed.
4 Characteristics of True Joy:
1) It must be RIGHT
“Rejoice in the LORD…”
Namely, concerning the “proper good of man” (ie. God Himself as opposed to something created). When we place our source of joy in created things (no matter how good they are) our joy is not “rightly ordered”. This is why our earthly joy is fragile, because here all things are ephemeral.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21
2) It must be CONTINUOUS
“Rejoice ALWAYS…”
Aquinas says that when our joy is interrupted by temporal sadness then it is a sign of an imperfection of joy (as a virtue). Perfect joy is uninterruptable because the one who has it cares little about passing things.
*It is important to note here that “sadness” is not the same as “sorrow” – Jesus could be sorrowful in the Agony in the Garden and Mary at the foot of the Cross without interrupting their true joy in God.
3) Our joy must be MULTIPLE
If we rejoice in God we will also rejoice in other things. “I bring you good news of great joy!” If we have true joy will rejoice in our activities (ie. good works), and in Contemplation (ie. our contact with God in prayer). We rejoice also in the good of others (no jealousy). We rejoice in the present (ie. the good that God has done) and the future (the good that He has promised).
4) Our joy must be MODERATED
ie. not flooded with pleasures as with earthly “joy” and does not degenerate into disoluteness. Ie. We are fasting during Advent but we don’t use Christmas “joy” as an excuse to be gluttonous
HE is the Cause of our Joy!
Man rejoices when his friend is near. The Presence of His Majesty is always near. (Physically in the Eucharist, spiritually in grace, in His clemency, in hearing our prayers, and in His rewards to us)
He is also coming soon! (view of eternity – reference to 2nd coming)
Therefore, let us rejoice with true joy, in His coming (past, present, and future), in His gifts, with the moderation of true spiritual joy, and at all times, but especially now because the Lord is near!
🙏
Why post this sermon on True Joy?
Yes, I recognize that it still only tells us what true joy is supposed to look like and if we don’t have all these characteristics then we are somehow lacking, but, personally, I found it helpful to note that true joy doesn’t have to be effusive and over-the-top. When I contemplate joy, it seems like it is something more peaceful that enables all the trials and worries of the world not to upset me in the way they used to, the ability to smile when joy would have been impossible before.
God is always everywhere and in every situation, but somehow He becomes more visible and obvious the more we pay attention. At a certain point, even our very trials become proof of God… and seeing His face makes me smile.
To a joyful Christmas Season!
Love and prayers always,
<3
PS. If you are diving into this topic, I found this really good video recently that complements this article very well. Rejoice, Even in the Darkness
