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From the Pastor's Desk: Dec. 12, 2021
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"Gaudete in Domino semper!” - Rejoice in the Lord always! (Phil. 4: 4)
The lighting of the third rose-colored candle of the Advent Wreath brings us closer to the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The theme for the Third Sunday of Advent is “joy” and comes from the words of St. Paul who tells us to rejoice: "Rejoice in the Lord always!" The liturgy of this Sunday echoes the words of the apostle to support its meaning and significance as we celebrate “Gaudete” Sunday. The word “Gaudete” means, “rejoice” or “be happy”. Today, we are invited to reflect on the authentic happiness and joy as Christians - what is true happiness? It is being near Jesus; unhappiness – is losing Him.
The dictionary defines “joy” as an emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. It is also defined as a state of happiness or felicity. In Catholicism, joy is a state of soul equated with happiness and it is also defined as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Joy therefore is not to be understood as something superficial or immature. The person who is filled with Christian joy possesses an immense treasure because the true Christian can smile and laugh even in the middle of the most terrible adversities and sufferings.
This is the joy of Advent and joy of our daily life – Jesus is very near to us. Happiness and joy should be essential to our Christian life. Because our happiness is not an ordinary one, but the happiness of Christ, who Himself is our primary source of joy. We need to be joyfully present to each other that leads us to an authentic love- “to will the good of the other.” In order to love we are called to action.
Although we are invited to rejoice today, many of us struggle to live a life filled with joy. Many often wonder “What should we do?"
So, today, John the Baptist comes to us on this Third Sunday of Advent as the awakener of our senses and points us to the truth- that in order to live a life filled with joy we need to have Jesus at the center of our lives. John, through his preaching, exposes the clutter of selfish concerns and materialism that can suffocate our practical love for our brothers and sisters in the stale air of indifference and greed. He reminds us that there is more than an expression of our concerns with material things, e.g. clothing the naked, but also covering with love the naked vulnerability of someone in need. Feeding the hungry is not only about the soup kitchen, but also by nourishing one another with our compassionate concern. To respond to these actions we need to make ourselves one with Him – the Way, the Truth and the Life. That is the direction to live a joyful life!!!!
Our Advent Parish Mission begins this Sunday and concludes with the Penance Service on Wednesday. I pray that you made necessary changes in your schedule to fully participate in the spiritual exercises leading us in preparation to welcome Christ at Christmas.
As we approach another week before Advent let us take to heart this Sunday’s message of joy and do something beautiful for God with our lives. “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.” -St. Mother Teresa
Have a blessed week! I hope to see you at the Parish Mission and Advent Penance Service this week!
With prayers,
Fr. Andy
