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This upcoming Sunday in Advent, we’ll be lighting the Joy candle on our Advent Wreath.

Who are the truly joyful people in our world? Search them out. Track them down. Catch them in the act of being happy.

Our world says, “Be concerned above all with your own comfort.” But I believe the truly happy people think first of the needs and comfort of others, particularly those the rest of the world avoid: children (What trouble! What a bother!); the same spouse for 50 or 60 years (Are you kidding?) More than this, you’ll find the truly joyful people with people the world has little use for: developmentally disabled people, old people, poor people, hungry people, people the world does not value.

In other words, you tend to find happy people with people who have good reason to be unhappy, the very people Jesus spent so much time with when he came to live among us.

As you get ready for Christmas, why not spend a little time with those that Jesus hung out with.

Here’s a prayer: Lord of Advent, Lord of Hope and Joy, help me to see how I can make room in my life for some of the people you rejoice in. Amen.