Rejoice, and I say again: Rejoice!
A young man in his early 30s had a seizure that he had never had in his entire life. The seizure came with so much pain that he was taken by EMS to the hospital. He was surrounded by a team of doctors and nurses, seeking to understand what happened to him. In the meantime, he was given a high dose of painkiller to take the pain away. After three days of his stay in the hospital, the doctor came in one morning to tell him that he would probably be discharged the next day if the blood work came back without any notable issues. His heart jumped with joy; his face lit with expectation. He was most excited that he would be released to go home and see his 3-year-old baby girl, whom he had missed so much.
Like this young man, there certainly are moments in our life journey when we have felt this burst of joy in our hearts for an expected outcome that will change our lives for the better. It is what this 3rd of Advent invites us to recall. God is coming into our midst to change our lives and humanity forever. In preparation for this divine visitation and to experience this deep joy that the birth of Christ brings to us, the scriptures today invite us to change our attitudes and the way we treat others: we should be kind, forgiving, and generous to people in need. On the other hand, we should avoid greed and extortion, injustice of any form, and manipulation of others for personal gain.
Above all, may we open our hearts to experience the profound joy that Our Lord brings us not just this season but every day of our lives. May His name be praised forever. Amen
Fr Cornelius Okeke