Today, third Sunday of Advent, called "gaudete" (rejoice) Sunday, the mystery of Bethlehem reveals to us “God-with-us”, the God close to us and not merely in the spatial and temporal sense; He is close to us because He has, as it were, "espoused" our humanity; He has taken our condition upon Himself, choosing to be like us in all things save sin in order to make us become like Him.

Christian joy thus springs from this certainty: God is close, He is with me, He is with us, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as a friend and faithful spouse. And this joy endures, even in trials, in suffering itself. It does not remain only on the surface; it dwells in the depths of the person who entrusts himself to God and trusts in Him.

—Joy enters the hearts of those who put themselves at the service of the lowly and poor. God abides in those who love like this and their souls rejoice.