Joy Is A Choice - Advent 2022

What’s the difference between joy and happiness? Happiness depends on happenings. Joy is a choice.

Redemption then restoration. Symmetry of creation and consumption

Joy is based on what God has done, and what He is going to do, often times in order to get you through what’s happening now.

Is it a sin to be sad? Anxious? Depressed? Weak? No. The Messiah was referred to as a man of sorrows. DBG?!

“Rejoice in the Lord, always” was written to a people who were very and rightfully discouraged because of their circumstances.

Joy in what the Lord has done and is going to do gets your eyes off of yourself, your circumstances, and can fuel your faith and your hope in prayer.

James tells us to make good choices

God doesn’t take us out of circumstances, He takes us through them. The difference between testing and tempting. This is why the same situation can be a testing from God and a temptation from Satan. Knowing God’s word is key. You need something to draw on in terms of knowing what He has done and will do.

Jesus came once to redeem. He is coming again to restore. These are what we celebrate in the liturgy and in the eucharist. These are tremendous sources of joy.