There is great joy in knowing our place before God.  This is the second time the readings speak about John the Baptist. It is quite interesting since usually the third Sunday of Advent the color for the candle is pink and the readings are about Mary’s joy. Regardless, joy is still present even in the life of John the Baptist, an austere desert type of person.  There is joy because he realized he was not the Messiah.  There is one Messiah, and he was not him.  He knew his place before God. And for a minute the Baptist could have used the uncertainty of the people to his advantage.  He could have abused his perceived status as the Messiah, for his personal gain.  There are so many titles the world throws around to entice people to adhere to  power.  However, John said no to all the titles attributed, he was only a voice crying out in the desert.  He knew his place, and this created in him great joy.
      When people stop worrying about their status in the world, and start caring about their status before God, things will change.  Joy will be present as well in their life because they will be focused on what matters to God, the spiritual life.  Joy is not just a momentary sensation of happiness, but it lasts within the heart of a person. 
      There are other ways to experience joy other than knowing our place, and they are given in the second reading.  In a world where joy is absent, we need more joy that the world cannot give.  During these holy days, many people will suffer from depression, from anxiety, from loneliness, from the busyness of the season.  This is the antithesis of what advent should be about.  
      The church insists this season is not primarily a penitential season, but one where true joy knowing the Lord is coming can be experienced.  Joy is knowing all will be well, even if temporal things are not looking good.  As mentioned, joy comes when a person knows the necessity of God and gives God the rightful place in their life.  May we expend these last weeks of advent making room for God, for only God can give us true and everlasting joy.