Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!
These words are from Paul’s letter to the Philippians which he wrote while he was in prison. In fact, the word “rejoice” appears 17 times in various forms throughout the short letter. Paul was not a naïve optimist; he obviously knew real suffering. Somehow, however, Paul was joyful despite the intense unhappiness of imprisonment.
The Third Sunday of Advent, or “Gaudete Sunday,” is all about joy in the midst of darkness. “Gaudete” means “rejoice.” Halfway through Advent, we rejoice. The color changes from purple to rose, from dark to light. The priest wears rose-colored vestments and we light a cheerful rose-colored candle on the Advent wreath. We are reminded that the darkness of sin and death in this world is a temporary condition. We are reminded that, soon, light will come to dispel the darkness. We are joyful because we know that our waiting will not be in vain.
In fact, “Gaudete” is the form of the word which commands us to rejoice. Against the backdrop of heartbreaking news of war around the world and violence in our own country, we may not feel like rejoicing. Of course, there are sad headlines on Gaudete Sunday, and every other day. Our celebration this week (and at Christmas) is a countercultural declaration that even in sadness, we rejoice because our hope is in the One who is stronger than the pains of this world; stronger even than death.
Paul was joyful because he was also grateful. He was grateful because even his worst day in prison with Jesus in his heart was more joyful than a moment of freedom without Jesus. In all of his letters Paul gave thanks to the Lord for giving him the opportunity to share the Good News with others! Prison did not diminish his joy or his gratitude. Rejoicing and thanksgiving are two sides of the same coin. The Psalmist says it well when he proclaims: “Cry out with joy and gladness…Give thanks to the Lord.”
So far during this Season of Advent, we have been focusing our attention on vigilance and preparation for the Lord’s return. Today we are reminded that while we wait for Him to return, we are also grateful and joyful for His presence and blessings. Rejoice!
Fr. Mike
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