Gaudete Sunday - Rejoice!

This is the 3rd week of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday, Gaudete meaning Rejoice! We rejoice  because ‘The Lord is near’. 

Brother David Steindl-Rast wrote, “It is not joy that makes us grateful. It is gratitude that makes us joyful.”

At first I was surprised by this statement. But the more I thought about it, the truer it seems. Joy is not the result of a positive outcome or circumstance in life. If that were the case, then our joy would be tied to external circumstances which we have minimal control over. This is closer to a description of happiness. Rather, joy is something deeper and from the heart. It comes from living a life of gratitude. And this is not natural; being grateful is a decision and something that is practiced. When we can be grateful in all circumstances, then we can be joyful in all circumstances.

The apostle Paul says, “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

(1 Thes 5:16-18 NIV)

[Here is the source of this little essay (thanks Beth!):
Tim and Olive's blog: http://timandolive.com/gratitude-comes-before-joy-reflections-for-advent-week-3/ ]