Rejoice!

     The entrance antiphon says: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.  Indeed, the Lord is near."  In our ADVENT journey we are invited to rejoice, to sing the praises of God, to rest in the assurance of the presence of the Lord God in our midst.  This Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday.  The color of the mass vestments is violet or rose (thus the color of the print).  I have never worn rose.  Most parish vestments are more pink, and while there may be some who "look pretty in pink", I'm not one of them. 

     The scriptures from Paul and the prophet Isaiah remind us to embrace the call that we have received in our baptism.  Isaiah's passage: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ... " was probably on my ordination invitation, as it was on so many in my day.  It was a reminder to us that God is at work in us, that he calls us to speak for him a word of comfort, to witness to truth, to reach out and touch those in need, to right the wronged.  When the oils were fresh, it was easy to be optimistic, to be visionary, to be on fire.  As the oils have dried, we have had to rely on the "oil of gladness" to keep us going.  As the burdens of everyday life and routine, and the struggles with sin, and the darkness of scandal (it was on the news today that a priest in Pittsburgh is in trouble - and I know the man, a good man) it becomes more of a challenge to keep the fire burning in our hearts.  With the uncertainty of what the future holds for the world community, for this nation, for the Church herself, it takes courage to have and express a vision.

     So, the Church today says "have courage", be "stouthearted", "be strong and wise", "REJOICE!".  The Lord has won the victory for us.  He has come to set the world right.  He is in our midst.  And he will come again in love to judge the living and the dead.  REJOICE!

     The collect of this Sunday says "...enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing."  Lord, help us to be firm in faith, joyful in hope and active in charity as we run this race.