Daily Thought For December 12, 2020

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 Gaudate Sunday


Ponder

THREE CANDLES ARE SUPPOSED to be glowing on the wreath, but where I worshipped this year the altar server couldn’t light the third one. She quit trying, and in her rush to get to the procession on time, she tripped. We tried hard to contain our laughter. That’s what this Sunday is all about.

Since the Vatican II reforms, the entire season of Advent now focuses on joy in anticipation of Jesus’ coming. Long tradition, however, emphasized this Sunday as a special day of Christian joy. That is why, in some countries, a different-colored candle burns today. Our liturgy’s entrance antiphon (usually omitted because we sing an opening hymn), is the text that gives rise to this Sunday’s name, Gaudete, rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Phil 4:4).

In an Angelus reflection, Pope John Paul II gives the reason for our joy:

  To know that God is not distant but close, not indifferent but compassionate, not aloof but a merciful Father who follows us lovingly with respect for our freedom: all this is a cause of deep joy which the alternating ups and downs of daily life cannot touch.

  An unmistakable feature of Christian joy is that it can go hand in hand with suffering, since it is based entirely on love. Indeed, the Lord who “is near,” to the point of becoming man, comes to fill us with his joy, the joy of loving. Only in this way can we understand the serene joy of the martyrs even amid trial, or the smile of saints, full of charity for those who are suffering: a smile that does not offend but consoles.

The season has reached its midpoint—like life. For the young, the midpoint of another school year has almost arrived—time enough to improve that final grade. For the elderly, who are well beyond life’s midpoint, they may be thinking of another final grade, the day they meet the Lord face to face.

Mary, your journey comes very close to your delivery date. I wonder! As you traveled to Bethlehem, did you look at the faces of children on the way? What did you think? Did you pray for the children?

At a shopping mall I sat on a bench not far from Santa where I could see the faces of the children. I decided to quietly finger my rosary under my shawl and make that my prayer time for the day. It wasn’t long before I noticed that small children really do reflect the expressions of their parents. A tense-faced mom begets an uptight child. An impatient dad drags a whiny child with fear-filled face. But shiny adult eyes and strong, gentle movements gave rise to reflections in the faces of radiant children. Mary, did you make Jesus smile?

Act

  Worship today! Take seriously the gathering of the churches to celebrate in Word and Eucharist—no matter what the tangled, knotted backside of the masterpiece called Church resembles.

Pray

  “Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one” (Jn 17:11–12, 15).

Frisk, M. J. (2005). Joyous Expectation: Journeying through Advent with Mary (pp. 53–55). Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media.

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