This Sunday we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. It is meant to mark the week as special; for centuries, in the west, the color pink has been associated with “joy”!
This Sunday is called “Gaudete” Sunday…from the Latin “to rejoice”…for the Lord’s coming is near! The readings this Sunday have both a sense of expectancy and joyfulness.
In the first reading the prophet Zephaniah cries out, “shout for joy,” sing, be glad, “exult with all your heart,” and elsewhere the prophet Isaiah tells us that the desert will break forth in bloom and we will see the splendor of God and the weak and the fearful of heart will be made strong. The blind will see, the deaf will hear and mute will sing…all the ransomed will return and there will be gladness and joy among the throngs of people as they enter Zion.
Wow…what a vision of the Reign of God bursting forth on the earth! As we think about this vision of the Reign of God, and we look around at all the suffering and war and famine and injustices…our joyfulness can quickly turns to sadness and feelings of being cheated out of Isaiah’s vision of the Reign of God. OR, instead of feeling cheated or sorry for myself, I can stand up and work with the Holy Spirit to make that vision a reality.
Let us remember the Angel Gabriel’s words to Mary at the annunciation, “for nothing is impossible with God.” I can work to build up the Reign of God in the midst of the injustices and fear and violence by speaking out and standing up on behalf of the homeless, the immigrant, by standing with people of color, Muslims, Jews, women and girls, members of the LGBTQ community -- so many of whom feel fearful, excluded, unheard and looked down upon just because of who they are, how they look or where they come from.
Each one of us is called to be the voice of the prophet crying out in the wilderness of division and disdain, to lay down our weapons of war and destruction and to call others to work to build the peaceable kingdom based on acceptance, mercy and forgiveness!
As we reflect on “Gaudete Sunday” and its deeper meaning, let us ask ourselves: What will I do this week to actively build up the Reign of God? And for whom and for what will I stand up for and show my support for this week?
Advent blessings,
Fr. Tim
This Sunday is called “Gaudete” Sunday…from the Latin “to rejoice”…for the Lord’s coming is near! The readings this Sunday have both a sense of expectancy and joyfulness.
In the first reading the prophet Zephaniah cries out, “shout for joy,” sing, be glad, “exult with all your heart,” and elsewhere the prophet Isaiah tells us that the desert will break forth in bloom and we will see the splendor of God and the weak and the fearful of heart will be made strong. The blind will see, the deaf will hear and mute will sing…all the ransomed will return and there will be gladness and joy among the throngs of people as they enter Zion.
Wow…what a vision of the Reign of God bursting forth on the earth! As we think about this vision of the Reign of God, and we look around at all the suffering and war and famine and injustices…our joyfulness can quickly turns to sadness and feelings of being cheated out of Isaiah’s vision of the Reign of God. OR, instead of feeling cheated or sorry for myself, I can stand up and work with the Holy Spirit to make that vision a reality.
Let us remember the Angel Gabriel’s words to Mary at the annunciation, “for nothing is impossible with God.” I can work to build up the Reign of God in the midst of the injustices and fear and violence by speaking out and standing up on behalf of the homeless, the immigrant, by standing with people of color, Muslims, Jews, women and girls, members of the LGBTQ community -- so many of whom feel fearful, excluded, unheard and looked down upon just because of who they are, how they look or where they come from.
Each one of us is called to be the voice of the prophet crying out in the wilderness of division and disdain, to lay down our weapons of war and destruction and to call others to work to build the peaceable kingdom based on acceptance, mercy and forgiveness!
As we reflect on “Gaudete Sunday” and its deeper meaning, let us ask ourselves: What will I do this week to actively build up the Reign of God? And for whom and for what will I stand up for and show my support for this week?
Advent blessings,
Fr. Tim
RSS Feed
