Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent also known to us as Gaudete Sunday. This word “gaudete” is Latin for “rejoice” and is taken from today’s entrance antiphon, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.”
Therefore, we focus our attention upon rejoicing in the Lord. Whenever we come to rejoice in the Lord we have true Christian joy. This joy that is being proclaimed to us is not just an ordinary joy such as one’s favorite food. We are speaking of a supernatural joy which is to say that we look outward towards that life to come which is in Heaven.
Saint John Chrysostom stated, “All seek joy, but it is not found on earth.” We can think of the many ways in which we attempt to find such joy in our life, but always come up short in acquiring it. Money and earthly pleasures always leave us longing for something more because our true longing is to enter into communion with God.
Our world is filled with a lot that might make us think that we have no reason to rejoice. So often we think that happiness and joy are equal, but they are not. There will come times in our life when we will come to know the hardship of the cross. During these moments we do not have to lose the virtue of hope because we can still have joy. Joy exists each and every time that we look outward and look upon the face of Christ.
During this upcoming season of Christmas we have the ability to acknowledge that God’s love is so great that He took on our human flesh and dwelt among us. Despite the darkness of sin and death that entered into the world through the Fall it was Christ who brought forth a great light to the world as He triumphed upon the cross. The love of the Lord for each of us is abundant and thus we must always find our belonging in Him.
During the remainder of this Advent season we must continue to prepare the way for the Lord’s coming. The more that we open our heart to receive Him the more that we are able to find joy. Wherever you believe that hope cannot be found remember that it is always found in that joy which springs forth from relation with the Lord. There is no cross, no matter how heavy, that is greater then the cross that He already endured for our sake. By joining with Him we invite Him to enter into our life in order that our burden may be made light. May this time of expectant anticipation bring about joy for we will come to encounter the Lord soon. We will encounter Him today in the Most Holy Eucharist, we will encounter Him at His Nativity, and we will encounter Him when He comes again.
No matter the circumstance that we now face let us “rejoice in the Lord always.”
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