December 8, 2022

Friends,

This Sunday, we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, which is also known as Gaudete Sunday or “Rejoice Sunday.” In our Advent wreaths, we light the pink candle which is meant to shake us into remembering that Advent and Christmas are seasons of JOY. We recognize that because God entered the brokenness of this world, we are meant to be joyful people! What an amazing and joyous revelation! God was born into our world to redeem it… to redeem US! That’s cause for great joy!

But before you tune me out because it sounds like I’m forcing you to feel an emotion, hear me out…

Joy isn’t just an emotion. Joy isn’t a passing feeling based on our circumstances. It’s not like sadness or loneliness or fear or excitement or contentment or happiness . . .