REJOICE! Gaudete!
Jocelyn Collen
In this “rose” or “pink” candle week of Advent, the theme is JOY! We can always use a little extra joy, especially during the darkest days of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere). Thankfully, our friends, neighbors, cities, and towns are putting up lights everywhere to remind us that we are expecting The Light of the World to enter our lives, in the midst of this darkness, and to bring comfort, light, and joy. This week reminds us to Rejoice Now! and that an even bigger time of joy will be coming very soon.
When we follow the way of God, we are able to see joy. Our Psalmist for today writes:
“Teach me your paths
Guide me in your truth.”
When we follow God, we will be led to the truth. The truth is something to be celebrated. The truth sets us free to live into the idea that we are loved beyond all measure, and we have been given the gift of God’s grace. We cannot help but celebrate when we realize the unconditional love of God.
Our Psalm reminds us that the path of truth is joyful and lifegiving. If we are living our examined lives, we will find joy easily. After all, a life that is full of joy and gratitude, is able to hold the darkness, knowing that more light will come.
A life that is intentional, is able to savor the phrase “enough is as good as a feast.” [Credit to Mary Poppins who first taught me this.] With this time of over-buying, abundance, gifting to excess, and hustle and bustle, it is hard to remember that enough is truly as good as a feast. The way of truth and love, the way of God, reminds us that God’s love is enough, and that is enough reason to find joy and to rejoice in the God who brings light to the darkness and loves us more than we can ever imagine or dream. As we are more than halfway through Advent and approaching our darkest day of the whole year, may we rejoice and be drawn to the light.
Jocelyn holds a Master of Divinity from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, and is preparing for priestly ordination in the Episcopal Church. She lives with her spouse in Massachusetts.
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