ARE YOU MORE OPTIMISTIC (your glass is half full) or more pessimistic (your glass is half empty)? What does this have to do with the upcoming holiday on Dec. 25, you wonder? A lot, since today is Gaudete Sunday, which in Latin means rejoice or be glad. Sometimes it might be difficult to see reasons for rejoicing, especially when we look at our poor world, so wounded and broken by sin. The number of conflicts, violence and wars around the world is appalling, not to mention the amount of abuse, addiction and poverty found everywhere.
Take heart, for today reminds us of the reason we can and should rejoice. Our Liturgical (Church) year begins on the first Sunday of Advent and continues for four Sundays until Christmas. It is a time of spiritual preparation to celebrate the two comings of Jesus: His birth in a cave (or stable) in Bethlehem approximately two thousand years ago, and His second coming at the end of the world. God our Father infinitely loves each of us and sent His Son, Jesus, to show His love in person. Jesus willingly offered His life on the cross to give us the opportunity to live forever with Him in heaven. The deepest hunger of the human heart is to love and be loved. When we invite God into our heart and life through Baptism and the other Sacraments; believe and trust in God’s love for us; try our best to love God in return and show our love for God through our love for our neighbor; then we are not only fulfilling the two Greatest Commandments (love God and love our neighbor) but also preparing well for Christmas.
It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations: cards, decorations, gifts and parties, while missing the true reason for our celebration: to rejoice in the birth of Jesus and anticipate His return in glory.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, …” (Mt. 25: 31) Jesus’ coming at the end of the world is nothing to fear if we prepare well for Him now. Perhaps we have seen Christmas cards and ornaments featuring the phrase “Jesus is the reason for the season,” and this is true. So then, let us prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of our Savior, the true reason for the Christmas season.
FOR YOUR FAMILY:
■ Read and share reasons for joy found in today’s Mass readings: Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11; Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28.
■ Prepare an Advent Wreath consisting of evergreens symbolizing God’s unending love and invitation to eternal life, and four candles (three purple and one pink) reminding us that Jesus is the light of the world. The pink candle is lit the third (or Gaudete) Sunday, and the purple ones the other three.
■ Prepare hand-crafted gifts rather than buying them; then donate the money saved to the poor.
■ When decorating your home, prepare a Nativity Scene and pray there daily.
■ Each week of Advent has a theme: hope, peace, joy and love. Plan to incorporate these into their corresponding weeks.
■ Prepare a Jesse Tree (a real or drawn branch) and daily place an ornament or picture representing Jesus’ ancestors starting with Jesse, the father of King David (Isaiah 11:1-2)
■ Prepare room in your heart for Jesus through extra prayers, acts of kindness, fasting, penance, sacrifices and a change of lifestyle as necessary, to bring your thoughts, words and actions into harmony with Jesus.
■ Attend Mass during the week as well as Sundays and receive Jesus in Holy Communion.