A few joyful resources

A few joyful resources

by Tammy Townsend Denny, TI Executive Director

​As the third week of Advent comes to a close and the Nativity of the Lord quickly approaches, I would like to offer you a few joyful resources to watch, to listen to, to read, and to reflect on.  

TO WATCH

Joy – A music video from Gospel recording artist VaShawn Mitchell.

Theology of Joy – A video interview with German theologian Jürgen Moltmann.
 
TO LISTEN

Re-Awakening Advent Wonder – A podcast episode from Things Not Seen, featuring an interview with author and artist Scott Erickson.

How can I make Advent more meaningful? – A podcast episode from A Nun’s Life featuring, Sr. Candyce Rekart, IHM

TO READ

Experiencing the Joy of Advent – An article by Sr. Bernadette Reis, FSP.

The Man Who Was a Lamp – Poetry by theologian and storyteller John Shea.

TO REFLECT

Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) – Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation. If holiday busyness keeps you from diving into the entire 224 page message, consider reading and praying with this excerpt:

“Sometimes we are tempted to find excuses and complain, acting as if we could only be happy if a thousand conditions were met. To some extent this is because our ‘technological society has succeeded in multiplying occasions of pleasure, yet has found it very difficult to engender joy’. I can say that the most beautiful and natural expressions of joy which I have seen in my life were in poor people who had little to hold on to. I also think of the real joy shown by others who, even amid pressing professional obligations, were able to preserve, in detachment and simplicity, a heart full of faith. In their own way, all these instances of joy flow from the infinite love of God, who has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ. I never tire of repeating those words of Benedict XVI which take us to the very heart of the Gospel: ‘Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction’”.

BONUS: TO LAUGH

Joy to the World – And lastly, I offer you this Muppet music video, because sometimes great joy comes in lighter moments of silly laughter.  

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