Today is Gaudete Sunday -- we add a new dimension to our waiting….joyfulness!! We hear Mary’s message, “My spirit rejoices in God my savior because the One Who was, Who is and Who is yet to come is on His way! In Mary’s case she was carrying the long awaited One for his first appearance amongst us as one of us, but for us, our spirits rejoice in God our savior for Christ has come and will come again!
But, how can we rejoice in the midst of all the problems of our own lives, not to mention the immense suffering and tragedies unfolding in the world around us in the midst of this pandemic that is ravaging the world?! Joy in the midst of the sorrow and suffering of those grieving the loss of their loved ones? It all seems a bit much! Yet that is precisely what scripture is calling us to -- to be joyful in the midst of our anger, in the midst of our fear and trembling, to trust in God, understanding that in the midst of it all God is present with us in the midst of our suffering, loving us through it!
John the Baptist proclaims the coming of the Messiah. But, not the one they all thought was coming -- One much greater…God’s very self…in flesh… Emmanuel…God with us! And for that we rejoice because in the midst of all of our brokenness and suffering and grief and fear we are deeply and passionately loved by God, just as we are!
And so we rejoice in being perfectly loved and perfectly forgiven! How can I share this “good news” with others?
Advent blessings,
Fr Tim
But, how can we rejoice in the midst of all the problems of our own lives, not to mention the immense suffering and tragedies unfolding in the world around us in the midst of this pandemic that is ravaging the world?! Joy in the midst of the sorrow and suffering of those grieving the loss of their loved ones? It all seems a bit much! Yet that is precisely what scripture is calling us to -- to be joyful in the midst of our anger, in the midst of our fear and trembling, to trust in God, understanding that in the midst of it all God is present with us in the midst of our suffering, loving us through it!
John the Baptist proclaims the coming of the Messiah. But, not the one they all thought was coming -- One much greater…God’s very self…in flesh… Emmanuel…God with us! And for that we rejoice because in the midst of all of our brokenness and suffering and grief and fear we are deeply and passionately loved by God, just as we are!
And so we rejoice in being perfectly loved and perfectly forgiven! How can I share this “good news” with others?
Advent blessings,
Fr Tim
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