Joy

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good" (1 Thessalonians 16-21).

Gaudate Sunday is all about joy. But this time of year, with the holiday approaching, isn't necessarily a joyful time for everyone. People are worried about money, about family, about all the things in their lives that haven't turned out the way they'd like. Hopelessness, darkness, and despair plague many. And we, as Christians, have the audacity to talk to them about joy.

It can be a bitter pill to swallow, this thing about joy. Why am I not feeling it? Is there something wrong with me? Am I missing the point in all my anxiety? People can be shocked, and even angry, when they realize they aren't feeling the happiness everyone around them is preaching. Why can't my holiday be like the one on the television?

Many people have said this before, but it bears repeating: happiness and joy aren't the same thing. Happiness is a feeling, an emotion, a sensation that comes about often due to an experience. Of course it can also be a person's disposition, true enough, but happiness fluctuates easily depending on how much sleep we've had or what we overheard our coworker saying behind our back. Happiness is like a bubble that expands, contracts, and can even be popped.

Joy isn't like that.

Joy is a thing that we can't always feel the way we feel an emotion. Joy is planted inside us by God and it's there all the time, but we don't necessarily feel it. Joy is something deeper, something more lasting, quietly guiding our lives.

Imagine the joy in Mary's heart when she saw the angel, when she said 'yes' to God and carried Jesus within her. Sure she felt happiness: she was carrying a child for whom she was full of love. But I bet she was also full of anxiety, of fear, maybe even panic. She didn't fully know what she was getting herself into. But she knew it could be bad. There would definitely be some kind of consequence. After all, you can't hide a pregnancy forever, not even a supernatural one.

Joy is like that: it hides underneath other emotions. It gives us strength. Other people can see it in us even when we can't see it ourselves. It brings us happiness, but it also leads us through pain and doubt.

We all have a calling in this life -- to follow Jesus, to discern the ways in which he leads us, to follow Him with all of our strength. That is joy: joy planted in us, joy growing stronger, joy leading us onward into the light. Joy is the thing that helps us transform our pain through prayer so that it becomes something else. Joy is the thing that finds strength in our weakness and brings light into dark places. Joy is saying 'yes' to God.

In joy, our pain and sorrow becomes something deeper, something more meaningful; hidden in joy -- or with joy hidden within it -- we discover that God does not leave us alone, that our lives have a bigger meaning than ourselves, and that nothing bad can go on forever because it is never the end. Only a step on our larger path.

That doesn't mean that joy obliterates sorrow and sadness. It shouldn't, and it can't. But in it we find our darkest moments are being transformed. In it, we find the place inside us where God dwells, filling us with His love.

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name" (Luke 1:46-49).