This third Sunday of Advent is known to us as Guadete Sunday which means “rejoice.” This is taken from the Introit of this Mass which states at its beginning: “Gaudete in Domino semper” or in English, “rejoice in the Lord always.”
As a world we probably ask what exactly do we have to rejoice for. After all, our Christmas plans have come to be greatly altered by the pandemic. Our hospitals are beginning to be full of COVID patients. Maybe we have recently lost a loved one or fear for their life. Other areas of our country head back into lockdown and we must fear for the same.
We cannot forget that Advent is a time of hope. This is a time of hope for we are a people of faith and we know that God’s love is so great that He took on our human flesh and dwelt among us. Very soon our celebration of Christmas will come and we will celebrate the birth of a Savior, we will anticipate His second coming at the end of time, and we will prepare for our encounter with Him in the gift which is the Most Holy Eucharist.
So often our hope and reason to rejoice is lost for we desire to place ourself at the center of attention and just make everything about us. Instead we must look outward and begin to see the bigger picture of salvation history. No matter what seems to be taken away from us Christ cannot be taken away. We must be a people of faith who always proclaim Christ Jesus and who attempt to orient our life after His.
One bodily posture that has not been done away with by the Church is that of offering Mass ad orientem. It is here that the priest stands with the people in prayer and worship. This orientation places our sight not upon the priest, but more fully upon Christ. Cardinal Sarah remarked: “Since ancient times, Christians have faced the east during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to remember to keep watch for Christ.” He went on to say: “Today, at a time when it is easy to forget that Christ is coming -and easy to be complacent in our spiritual lives and in the work of evangelization that Christ will come.” The crucifix on the altar reminds of this orientation for together we stand gazing upon it to “recall the importance of watching for his return.”
It is for this reason that we must come to orient our life towards the coming of Christ by frequenting the sacraments of the church. To make a good confession of our sins is reason for us to rejoice. To receive the Eucharist in the state of grace is a reason for us to rejoice. To spend time in prayer before God is reason for us to rejoice. Each of these actions turn ourself away from our desires and orient our mind and heart towards that of God and preparing ourself for the return of the Messiah.
I do not know what the future may hold for us. Even outside of this time of pandemic the same would hold true. I do know that we are given every reason to have hope and every reason to rejoice. The question always points back to us and if we want to open up our heart and soul for our encounter with Christ. We must remember that without Christ we can do nothing, but with Him nothing no matter how difficult will prove to be impossible.
Saint John the Baptist did not dwell in darkness, but he instead came to testify to the light. Likewise, we are to orient our life towards His coming among us by setting straight the way for this encounter.
No comments:
New comments are not allowed.