The Greatest Joy

~~~ Third Sunday of Advent ~~~

~~~ Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11 ~~~ (Psalm) Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 ~~~

~~~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 ~~~  John 1:6-8, 19-28

My soul rejoices in my God.

John was so filled with joy that he was excited 

to be the voice crying in the desert.

He was so filled with joy that he did not feel worthy

 to untie the strap of the sandal of Jesus.

This is the Advent Sunday of joy.

Mary was filled with joy as she spoke the words of the Magnificat...

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked upon his lowly servant.

What brings the most joy into your heart.

How do you go about searching for joy?

Do you wait for joy to surprise you?

Where do you experience the most joy?

My soul rejoices in my God.

Paul connects praying and giving thanks with joy.

Prayer places us in the presence of God.

Prayer is our opportunity to tap into the joy of the Lord.

Prayer certainly gives us a reason to express joy.

Giving thanks to God for all that he has done 

in our life is more reason to have joy.

Giving thanks for the beauty of nature acknowledges our joy.

Giving thanks for the creativity of the various forms of art

acknowledges our joy.

Giving thanks for family and friends

evokes profound joy.

Sometimes joy can be so great that it washes

 over your heart in wave after wave.

The Spirit of the Lord

brings forth the greatest joy of joy.

As the we get closer to the celebration of the birth of Jesus...

we have the occasion to view this event with great joy. 

Jesus loved us so much that he was willing

to empty himself of being pure God.

He became fully human.

Loving Jesus in return for his coming to save us

is wherein lies the greatest Joy.

Today is all about

JOY.

Blessings found in joys great and small.

Sit back enjoy the twinkling lights and the music of joy.

~~~Peace~~~