A common stereotype in books and movies is a Christian figure who is overly solemn and serious, with an air of ‘holier-than-thou’. While this stereotype isn’t always accurate, a solemn mindset is easy to fall into. Our faith is certainly not something to be frivolous about, but it is easy to become focused on our sinfulness and the brokenness of the world, and it can be hard to find joy in the midst of our daily troubles. Yet, despite this difficulty, Christians are called to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). So how can we incorporate more joy into our lives? How do we become joyful?

First, it is important to know what joy actually is, and what it is not. St. Thomas Aquinas states that “Joy is caused by love, either through the presence of the thing loved, or because the good of the thing loved exists and endures in it” (Summa Theologica II-II:28:1). Joy is not simply good feelings, though it can include them, and it is not a result of external causes. Instead, joy is a result of an act of the will to love. We experience joy when we are in the presence of someone or something we love, or when we know that the people and things we love are following the path to achieve their greatest good.

Joy does not always involve feeling good. The apostle James tells us to “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3). This is evidenced most strongly by the martyrs, and by Jesus Himself, “who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). In the midst of enduring extreme physical and spiritual suffering, they still experienced spiritual joy, for they loved God above all other things, and in their suffering they loved Him still more, desiring only to be in His presence and unite all souls to Him. 

Although our joy will only be complete in Heaven, in the presence of Love Himself, the greatest joy on earth comes from choosing to love God and others. The secret to remaining joyful is to completely abandon ourselves to God in humble confidence. This abandonment involves ridding ourselves of all earthly attachments, allowing God to take full control of our lives, and trusting that He will carry us through all trial and tribulation. God is the source of all joy, so because our attachments to worldly things keep us from attaching ourselves fully to God, they rob us of spiritual joy. These improper attachments can be external, material things, but they can also be internal as well, such as power, praise, or even just our own self. Focusing too much on ourselves keeps our focus turned away from God, and keeps us from doing the good works that lead to joy.

The first step in ridding ourselves of attachments that steal our joy is to recognize them for what they are. Begin by becoming more mindful of what causes your prideful, anxious, or selfish thoughts, and take those thoughts to prayer. Once you recognize the source of the thoughts, the next step is to make an act of the will to turn them over to God, intentionally replacing them with thoughts of humility, trust, and love. This will not change everything in an instant; like all good habits, working to change one’s mindset takes time and struggle. Continual prayer is essential, for this mindset of love will grow as our relationship with God grows, and He is the source of the grace and strength we need to resist temptation. After beginning to change our mindset, we must take action as well. Our act of will must not remain in our thoughts, for we express our love through action, and these actions cause us to grow in charity, which gives us more joy.

The Christian life is not meant to be dull and dreary; one has only to look at the incredibly joy-filled lives of the saints to see the potential for joy here on earth. Though we are imperfect beings, our weaknesses should not cause us despair. Instead, awareness of our faults allows us to take action in our lives to rid ourselves of earthly attachments and grow in love for God. This is what enables us to have greater joy on earth, and eventually experience the fullness of joy with Him in Heaven!

Happy Gaudete Sunday! I am praying for you all, and I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Advent! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas for future posts, let me know!