Gaudete - Joyful Hope & Peace in the Midst of Our Difficulties
The Third Sunday of Advent, December 13th, 2009
II: Phil 4:4-7;
Gospel: Lk 3:10-18
Click here for video of Fr. Euteneuer presenting this Spirit & Life, the third of a four-part Advent Reflection Series.
The Third Sunday of Advent is always called "Gaudete" Sunday - namely, Rejoicing Sunday! We have arrived at the penultimate Sunday of this holy season and we wait, as the Eucharistic Prayer says, "in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ." The readings of this Sunday remind us that the Christian life, despite its many sacrifices, is not one of dreary expectation but one of joyful hope and peace. Let's imagine the many ways we can transform our world through joy.
First and foremost, we thank God for the precious gift of our lives. No matter what the circumstances of our conception or birth are; no matter what challenges we may have had to face, life itself is a good that comes from on high and which God always sustains. We can share our lives with others, fill others with life and lay down our lives for our friends. Those who are married can even participate with God in the creation of new life for time and eternity. Not even the angels have been given the gift of procreation!
More than anything we are called to protect life which is sacred and which is so threatened in our day and age. In this Advent season we must make sure that we have some type of explicit pro-life, pro-marriage or pro-family commitment to others in order to show God how much we appreciate these tremendous gifts of His love.
Secondly, we rejoice in the fullness of God's grace that has been given to us in the teachings, Sacraments and devotions of our Church. We have everything from the Scriptures, the saints, the doctrine and the mission of the Church to give our inner lives clarity and meaning. We must never cease to thank the Lord for these great gifts and ask for the grace to appreciate them so much more.
And finally, let us rejoice simply in the love of God that comes to us in Jesus Christ! We have experienced his coming as Man and await His coming at the end of time. Now we ask Him to come into our hearts in a special way this Christmas so that we may be able to give Him to others and evangelize our world.
There is much to rejoice about in this season of grace. St. Paul exhorts the Philippians to "rejoice in the Lord always!" He did not say "sometimes." He emphasized that we must always rejoice in His Presence. He knew that the only way to balance out the world's many sorrows and pains was through a profound sense that our Redeemer has come to save us and that the difficulties of life are never the last word for those who know Christ and spread His joy to others.
Sincerely,
Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,
President, Human Life International
posted by Al @ 12:01 AM
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