Gaudete Sunday

This Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday - Gaudete meaning “rejoice” in Latin. It is the midpoint of our Advent journey and a moment to rejoice, for we are drawn ever closer to the celebration at Christmas. Advent means arrival. With each Sunday of the season we light an additional candle on the Advent wreath and the light intensifies, culminating with the celebration of Jesus, the Light of the World, arriving into human history. We hear from St. Luke’s gospel that the Dawn from on high shall break upon us. The Dawn is Jesus, the light that dispels darkness. For this reason, we rejoice that our salvation is made manifest in the person of Jesus!

As we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Our Savior, we do so with a deep desire to do all we can to please God for such a great gift. The Church gives us the following ways to prepare: celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and by marking important feast days and cultural events such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Filipino novena of Masses known as Simbang Gabi, and the Hispanic tradition of Las Posadas, which is the reenactment of the Holy Family’s Christmas journey. We also prepare our homes for his arrival with Christmas decorations and nativity scenes.

Let us see this time of grace as an opportunity to reach out to those neighbors, family, and friends who may be experiencing difficulties and personal struggles. Let us welcome others into our homes, invite them to join us at Mass – let us help one another encounter the Incarnate Christ.

My prayer for this local church is that during the remaining days of Advent we continue in our devotions, prayers and service to one another.