November 30, 2025

Paul calls an anxious, struggling community to rejoice—not because everything is fine, but because the Lord is near. Joy in Philippians is not emotional cheerfulness but a stubborn practice of turning our minds toward God’s presence and gentleness in a world that rarely reflects either. When our hearts feel pulled in too many directions, Paul invites us to entrust our fear, our longing, and our worry to God in prayer, trusting that Christ’s peace can guard what we cannot guard ourselves.

Mark begins with urgency, not sentimentality. In the wilderness John calls people to repentance because God is on the move. That’s good news, but it’s also disruptive. Advent joy and Advent repentance are not opposites—they are partners. Joy grows in the soil of honesty: honesty about our sin, our wounds, and our desire for a different way of living. When we straighten the crooked paths inside us, joy has room to take root.

Reflection Question:
Where is Christ inviting you to clear a little room—through honesty or repentance—so joy can grow?