Embrace a revolutionary joy

In the wilderness of expectation, John the Baptist emerges as a prophet of joy—not the superficial happiness often mistaken for genuine delight, but a transformative joy rooted in radical authenticity and social responsibility.

Luke’s Gospel (3:10–18) captures a moment of spiritual awakening, where joy is not a passive emotion but an active, intentional response to divine calling.

When the crowds approach John, their question is beautifully simple yet deeply existential: “What should we do?”

John’s response cuts through religious pretence and theological abstractions, offering practical pathways to authentic joy. To those with extra clothing, share. To those with food, do likewise. Tax collectors are called to integrity, soldiers to justice.

Joy, in this biblical narrative, is fundamentally about human solidarity and ethical living.

Pope Francis has been a powerful contemporary voice articulating this understanding of joy. In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, he writes, “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.” This joy transcends mere individual happiness, presenting itself as a radical force of communal transformation.

For us here in Trinidad and Tobago, a nation characterised by rich cultural diversity yet challenged by persistent social and economic inequalities, this message carries profound significance.

The country’s complex landscape—marked by economic volatility, social tensions, and multicultural dynamics—demands a joy that is resilient, inclusive, and transformative.

Modern-world challenges create significant obstacles to experiencing genuine joy. Digital technologies, while connecting us globally, often simultaneously increase individual isolation. The relentless pursuit of personal success breeds competitive individualism. Economic systems prioritise consumption over community, creating a spiritual impoverishment that Pope Francis has consistently critiqued.

In this context, the Advent season’s third week—traditionally associated with joy—becomes a powerful invitation to reimagine our collective spiritual and social possibilities. Joy is not a luxury but an act of resistance against systems that dehumanise and divide.

It requires courage to choose connection over isolation, empathy over indifference, and collective well-being over individual gain—each and every day.

Pope Francis offers a compelling perspective: “Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved.”

A spiritual, political act

John the Baptist’s proclamation points beyond immediate circumstances towards a more profound hope. His message anticipates Christ’s transformative presence—a joy that doesn’t deny suffering but transcends it through love, compassion, and radical solidarity.

For us in this sometimes joyless land, this might mean challenging economic models that perpetuate inequality, fostering meaningful intercultural dialogues, creating robust community support systems, and reimagining social structures that honour human dignity. The joy has to be grounded.

In our modern context, joy becomes a spiritual and political act. It’s about creating spaces of genuine human encounter, where resources are shared, where systemic injustices are confronted with love, and where community supersedes individual interests.

Advent’s joy is an active preparation. It’s about cultivating hope in seemingly hopeless situations, maintaining compassion in environments of cynicism, and believing in transformation when systems seem immovable.

As we journey through this Advent season, we are invited to embrace a revolutionary joy—a joy that challenges, disrupts, and ultimately reveals the divine presence in our most practical, compassionate actions.