For Joy

19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:19-24
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For Joy
Jesus promises that there will be sorrow. We will weep and lament in this life. Jesus promises here and other places that the Church will be attacked. Christians will be persecuted. There will be sorrow and struggle. We will and do have tears on our faces. This sorrow does not have a permanent place in your life. In the moment, it seems like nothing will change. Jesus promises that our sorrow will turn to joy. The Christian joy is something that cannot be taken from you. It is not a fleeting emotion, but a permanent reality in Jesus Christ. He endures the ultimate sorrow for you and me on the cross. His death is the enduring of wrath and forsakenness. We will never have to experience that. Instead, he grants joy that is eternal. No one can take your joy in Christ. This is the third week of Advent. The Church names the third week of Advent, Gaudete, which means, "rejoice." Rejoice, O people of God, Jesus has come to you and ransomed you from the hand of the enemy.