And you will have joy and gladness.

As Advent nears its fulfillment, today’s readings invite us to reflect on a joy that is born not from comfort or ease, but from God’s surprising and faithful action in the midst of human limitation. The joy promised today is not shallow happiness; it is deep gladness rooted in God’s initiative and mercy. Both the first reading from Judges and the Gospel from Luke present us with a strikingly similar situation: barrenness. Manoah’s wife and Elizabeth are unable to conceive, and in both cases, their barrenness represents more than a physical condition—it is a place of longing, silence, and social disgrace. Yet it is precisely in these barren spaces that God chooses to act. Advent reminds us that God’s grace often enters where hope seems exhausted. In Judges, the angel announces the birth of Samson, a child set apart from the womb, consecrated to God for a mission of deliverance. Samson’s life will be marked by God’s Spirit, stirring him toward freedom for Israel. This birth is not simply a private blessing for a family; it is God’s response to the suffering of a people. Joy, here, is tied to vocation—God gives life not only for comfort, but for mission. The Gospel deepens this theme through the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. They are described as righteous and faithful, yet their prayers appear unanswered for many years. When the angel Gabriel finally appears, Zechariah is told, “Your prayer has been heard… and you will have joy and gladness.” This joy is communal and expansive: “many will rejoice at his birth.” True joy overflows: it draws others into praise and hope. Yet Zechariah struggles to believe. His doubt silences him, not as punishment alone, but as an invitation to deeper listening. In contrast, Elizabeth receives God’s gift with quiet gratitude, recognizing it as God’s act of mercy that removes her disgrace. Joy, in this sense, is not loud or immediate; it matures in silence, trust, and patience. As we prepare for Christmas, these readings ask us where we may be experiencing barrenness—places of waiting, disappointment, or unanswered prayer. Advent assures us that God is at work even there. The joy promised by God does not deny our struggles; it transforms them. When God acts, shame gives way to dignity, silence becomes praise and waiting turns into gladness. May this Advent season open our hearts to the joy God desires to give us—a joy born of trust, sustained by hope, and fulfilled in God’s faithful love.