Joy - The Third Sunday of Advent

Tomorrow we continue the liturgical calendar, the Third Sunday of Advent.

The four Sundays preceding Christmas, which is when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, are recognized for four virtues. The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize hope, peace, joy and love.

The Third Candle of Advent - Joy.

Otherwise known as the "Shepherd Candle," this third candle of Advent reflects the joy that comes through Jesus’ arrival, and through the salvation he has gifted us.
It is also known as the Shepherd Candle to highlight the joy the shepherds experienced when they received the good news about Christ’s birth (Luke 2:8-20).

During the middle of the night, the darkest time, the shepherds encountered angels.

During this third week of advent, this Sunday celebrates the passage Philippians 4:4-5, its verses extolling readers to “rejoice” for “indeed the Lord is near.” 

Churches want to highlight the importance of joy in advent season. During a time where depression is at an all-time high and people seem to be in the most despair, this candle offers a bright light during a dark time. 

Joy is an extreme happiness that cannot be deterred by present circumstances. This type of joy comes from God alone. Joy can often be experienced when a Christian thinks about salvation, eternal life, or Jesus. 

With the definition of joy established, let’s dive into what Scripture says about joy:

God fills us with joy (Romans 15:13). We cannot will ourselves to experience joy. It comes from God alone. 

It’s a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We experience more joy when we spend time with God. We have to keep in mind that joy only comes from God, but when we spend more time with him, we allow him to fill us with it.

No one can take joy from us (John 16:22). Given to us by God himself, no one has the ability to rob us of our joy. No matter what circumstances we encounter, no one can take this away.

Joy rests in things from God such as salvation and righteousness (Psalm 51:12).

Depending on the translation, joy appears more than 100 times in the Bible.

Prayer: Heavenly Father
We realise that our joy doesn’t only come from our jobs, our family, our relationships, our finances, or our success. Our joy doesn’t come from what we have on earth or who we are with. Our joy is a gift. It is the gift that you gave us that first Christmas in Jesus Christ. Our joy is encompassed in our Saviour, King Jesus. Flood our heart with joy this Advent season as we reflect on the good news of Jesus’ birth. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen