Homily for the Week of December 14, 2008

Third Sunday of Advent, 2008
Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

In 1835, an Italian psychiatrist had a new patient who was suffering from chronic anxiety and depression. The patient had thought of suicide and was coming to a doctor as a last hope of recovering from his depression. An examination showed that the patient was in excellent physical condition. The doctor decided that what he needed was to learn to laugh again. Performing in the village that evening was a circus clown named Grimaldi. He was known for his ability to make people laugh. The doctor told him to go see Grimaldi. He will surely make you laugh again, the doctor said. The depressed patient replied: No, he cannot cure me. You see, I am Grimaldi. Grimaldi had to pretend he was happy as part of his work. We know that real joy is more than just an external sign.

Music is involved in the Christmas season like no other season. There is hardly a Christian household that does not have several Christmas music albums. Among the very top non-religious seasonal songs is ''Silver Bells,'' It was written by Ray Evans for the 1951 Bob Hope black-and-white movie, The Lemon Drop Kid. It Was recorded by Bing Crosby. The song had sold over 500 million copies.

Today was known in former times as Caudate Sunday as a sign of rejoicing that the Lord would soon be here. If you listened carefully on the words of Isaiah, especially you who are mothers and fathers, might have been able to translate his words into yours as you expected your first child.

In just ten days we we will sing out: JOY TO THE WORLD and will greet each other with a Merry Christmas. Christmas day will have come and gone. If a stranger or one who is not of our religious tradition were to meet us after Mass and ask us about Christmas, what would we answer? Would that person see excitement over a long awaited child, or just the anxiety of last minute shopping, of Christmas cards, and tiredness? How do we tell others of the joy we receive from Christ?

Why do you think that God wanted the baby to born in a stable? Because all the motels were filled up that night. God wanted his Son to be born as an outcast or an outlaw in order to show once and for all that with God there are no outcasts and outlaws. There are sinners, but all sinners can become saints; there may be bad people but they can become good. That is why Christmas is a time of joy.

Spiritual joy is not so much a feeling as a conviction. Happiness is a state of spiritual health. We tend to think that if we feel happy, we are happy. And if we don’t feel happy, we think we are not happy. Just as we may be healthy and feel unhealthy, so also we can feel unhappy and really be happy. Happiness is not the same as pleasure. Pleasure comes and goes. Happiness lasts. In fact, very often happy people have very little pleasure in their life.

Isaiah tells his people that some day they will rejoice. Paul tells us that it is God’s will that we rejoice always. We are told by John the Baptist that we are to Make straight the way of the Lord. John had very little of anything. But he was happy because he knew that the Savior was near.

John the Baptist preached within an equally unjust society in which the rate of taxation was close to 90 percent, the poor were mistreated, widows and orphans had to fend for themselves, and the sick were exiled because sickness or being handicapped was a sign of sinfulness. What John had to announce was not the arrival of Santa. What John announced was that God was coming to speak to this broken world, to heal, to bring justice, and to institute a new kind of Kingdom. Once again we can only imagine the anticipation of the poor who had so little hope and the anxiety of those who had too much to lose if this really were to happen.

But there are no short cuts to happiness. Advent teaches us the importance of waiting and watching. Not simply passing time until something happens, but using time spiritually to prepare ourselves for the Lord who is with us, yet who is to come. And lest we imagine it is all hard work and sacrifice, we are reminded it is about happiness too.

God gives us happiness as a free gift, especially to share it with others. Doing what God want us to do can make us happy. It can also increase our happiness. And one of the sure ways of bringing joy and happiness to our lives is doing something for others. That is why those preparing for confirmation are invited to give of their time and talents in serving others. While this is a requirement for confirmation, it really is seen as a way to begin giving back to others what has been received.

In the Plattsburgh Press Republican there was a photo of two high school students from a local high school who were fixing old bikes so that they might be given to the needy. The bikes were donated to them by the police and others. Others students gave money so that parts could be bought. The students bargained with the parts stores on prices. What these teenage students did went way beyond the bikes that they gave away.

Today's Mass joyfully invites us to open our eyes to recognize a remarkable "secret," the presence of Jesus--but not simply a Jesus who came long ago or who is coming again. Rather, we are invited to look deep into the ordinary lives we live and to the ordinary people with whom we live, there to recognize the "secret," extraordinary presence of the One we call Jesus and Lord.
Today’s message is one of joy. During this week take some time to think of what gives you joy. It might be watching your children or grandchildren. It might be nature or sports or woodworking or needlework. Maybe it is music or art. Perhaps it is just being able to see or to hear.
Whatever it is that gives you joy, stop and think about it. Appreciate it. Than think of the ever faithful God is behind that joy you experience. Be joyful and thank God.