How happy are you? According to Positive Psychology, “Happiness is subjective. We know when we feel happy and when we don’t, but how can we measure it?” Let’s check the quality of our happiness. There are many things that make us happy—fame, power, money, and even pleasures. We might possess all these things, but we will never be truly happy if we don’t decide to be. The truth is that we often lack contentment. People acquire things that provide external comfort, but inside, they feel completely empty.

The flood control issues give us a glimpse of this external comfort for those involved, but now they find themselves trapped in a nightmare of their own making. Before they suffer the consequences, we are the ones who experience the terrifying results of substandard responsibility entrusted to them. “They are the only ones who want to be happy,” but what about us? They must now check the quality of their lives.

Joy is something we all deserve, but not all of us have access to the inner feeling of joy. Being joyful is about connection—being with our family and friends, doing things that make us feel relaxed. We must also check the quality of the way we rejoice. We need to stay connected with what makes us joyous.

This third Sunday of Advent is known as “Gaudete” Sunday, meaning “rejoice.” The most awaited time of the year is nearly here. Time flies so fast, and we often don’t realize that Christmas is already approaching. The joy of knowing that the Lord is near is a joy we must recognize and give importance to. This is how the Apostle James encourages us to wait joyfully in patience and hope: “Rejoice in the Lord always!” This opening antiphon expresses the joyful coming of Jesus into our daily lives. The rose candle is lit in the Advent wreath, reminding us of joy.

Our readings help us to see the prophetic message of Isaiah, which describes God’s “transformative salvation”—the joy that we don’t earn but that God brings to us. In the Gospel, John the Baptist asks, “Are you the One?” This question, though filled with doubt, is ultimately a question of confirmation. Jesus selflessly responds to John’s followers through His healing. John does not point to himself as the One; instead, he continues to look for the greater One. His humility invites us to do the same: to prepare the way for the Lord in our hearts. This will allow true happiness to bring us full contentment and help us stay connected to the joy that we deserve—a joy that comes from within.

I pray that my heart will always be rejoicing, no matter the circumstances of my journey, and that my joy may be complete in whatever I have in my hands.