December 15, 2024 Third Sunday of Advent
Daily Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18
As elusive as peace is today, so too is joy. Why? Because we often seek it in the wrong places. We believe that joy comes from filling our lives with things, achievements, and power. But anyone who is honest with themselves will admit that, although these can provide pleasure, they do not give us the deep joy our hearts truly desire.
Today’s readings speak of the true source of joy that we all seek—having Jesus in our midst. What does this imply?
First, having Jesus in our midst brings renewal of hearts. Without the renewal of our hearts, we cannot truly say we recognize Jesus in our midst. This is the call of John the Baptist: “Repent!” It is a repentance of action, not just of words.
Second, having Jesus in our midst brings hope and peace. If we continue to live in anxiety and hopelessness because we are too focused on the world, we will fail to recognize Jesus among us. A hopeful heart leads us to trust in God’s timing and be grateful for the daily blessings that come our way.
Third, having Jesus in our midst moves us to be sharers, not hoarders, of everything that is good. Joy springs from recognizing our blessings and sharing them, especially with those in need.
May we find in our hearts the true reason to rejoice!
A Call to Action for Catholic Living: Let us welcome Jesus into our hearts, find true joy in His presence, and share our blessings with others in love and gratitude.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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