Wouldn't it be great if the first thing that popped into people's minds about Catholics they thought was joy. "Those are some seriously joyful people. I don't know if I like them or agree with them, but you can't deny those people got some joy."
Have you ever noticed that Christmas is bubbling over with joy? Well, evidently a lot of us have missed that news because Catholics are not always associated with joy. More often than not, people think of us with long faces, furrowed brows, somber looks. But everywhere you turn in scripture, Christmas is bubbling over with joy. Zechariah, fulfilling his task as a priest in in the temple, an angel appears, says, "You and Elizabeth are going to have a son, and you're going to name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth." Elizabeth receives a visit from her cousin Mary, who has conceived Jesus. And when Mary arrives, the baby leaps in Elizabeth's womb for joy.
Angels have the wonderful task of sharing the good news of Jesus' birth. God arrives with the shepherds and says, "I bring you good news of a great joy for all people." And then best of all, with the Wise Men, they arrive on the scene, they discover Jesus, and when they see the star, they rejoice with exceeding great joy. That's a lot of joy. Joy is everywhere. Christmas is dripping with it.
Today’s Sonshine is a simple reminder that Christmas - Jesus Christ - is all about joy. Despite the latest news that we all have to start wearing masks again. No big deal. Jesus brings great joy. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing.” Shout it from the rooftop. Whisper it to a friend. Joy sustains you in the highest moments, perhaps at the birth of a new child or in your darkest moments of despair. We know the Lord, and nothing can change that or remove that. We have a joy that is contagious in a good way. Joy is at the center of God's heart. Joy makes us different because we have a joy that the world really doesn't understand.
A week ago I was asked to volunteer at the cathedral to help make pastries for a Christmas fund raiser. Imagine this, the bishop was mixing the dough, weighing it on a scale, proofing and I would take the round loaf and roll it into a 12 by 12 square, fill the pastry with cups of apple, apricote, or prune and carefully roll the pastry into a log, press the seams with a fork and hand it off to our bakers into the oven.
Lots of fun and laughter as our the church ladies would asked me, where did you learn to roll out the dough so perfectly Fr. Matt? I shared with a grin that it is a dream of mind to open a pastry shoppe. By the way, I told them, don’t you remember every time I come to celebrate Mass and preach at your cathedral I always have some cookies to give away at the end of Mass. "Who made the snickerdoodles and peanut butter and chocolate chips cookies?" “Oh, yea,” they remembered. “But why did you do that?" My response, “to bring you joy.”
Christmas isn't so much about changing the world, changing other people. Christmas is really about God changing you. It's about Jesus. There is no greater joy than Jesus. If you want to raise your joy a little, here's two simple ways to grow in joy this week as you prepare for Christmas.
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they take the time to spread a little joy,
First, either you are cooking or attending a Christmas meal with family and friends, maybe you could offer the Christmas blessing and say thank you to your host for their generous hospitality, and you could bring a little bouquet of flowers for their table (that’s my gift to make a floral piece for the sideboard).
Second, this retired old priest has been invited to return to his former parish and cathedral to concelebrate their Childrens Christmas Mass. While we have been collecting names of your pets, please forward names of family and friends and I will gladly offer my Christmas Masses for your intention.
Forward your intentions to: drmattkawiak@gmail.com
Joy to you! fr. matt
