This Sunday, in our Liturgy is known as Gaudete Sunday, coming from the Latin work meaning to "Rejoice." Rejoice is an apt theme because we find it in nearly all of the Scripture this weekend: "I rejoice heartily in the Lord...My soul rejoices in God my Saviour; Rejoice always as St. Paul would say. The Liturgy calls us to rejoice in anticipation of the birth of Christ. As we relive the centuries of waiting for the Messiah in these weeks, the time is almost over. Hence, the more somber purple of Advent (Because Advent is a penetential season) is lightened to the famous rose color of the vestment and the third candle of the wreath.

There are the days when we hardly fell like rejoicing, with just the regular demands of life and everything else this time of the year. In the midst of all of this, Isaiah, as before literally shouts at us and tells us to stop and look at ouir lives; John the Baptist does the same thing: fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah. Why, because in the midst of all of this chaos that can seem to surround us and engulf us, God has entered into our lives, and all that makes those up: WIth the birth of Jesus, we have justice, charity, and above all, salvation at hand. We have to pay attention to John the Baptist, and look and see Jesus and say that it has happened! God has entered into our lives in His son to heal us, to bring us glad tidings and freedom from the captivity of sin! He is visible and present to us in the living signs of Faith that our Sacraments are!

St. Paul gives us some good advice this weekend about how to use this time of advents, so as not to miss the Lord, so as not to miss the light: Above all, to live with a greatful heart for what we have: to give thanks in all circumstances; to realize that God is calling us to lead holy lives, to grown in holiness, to be preserved blameless and free from all evil. It is the opposite of all of these that casts darkness and shadows around. St. Paul tells us also to pray without ceasing. This does not mean that we have to be on our knees at all times. Even St. Augustine would say that! In turns he does say, that prayer without ceasing means that the desire of our hearts should always be turned toward God!

In our anticipation of this season, do we recognize the signs of Christ in our lives. What his coming has meant and continues to mean for us. Whatever challenge may be facing us at the moment, let's step out and way from that into all that God offers to us. That is what we should be joyful for. The message of Gaudete Sunday is to lift us briefly out of this world, to the joy and the promise of the light of Christ: with all of the healing, hope, and love that it brings. God almighty wnats us to be clothes with those in thise season. To rejoice and give thanks in all of that, in all moments, because we are not the last word; It is the Word of God himself, the light John the Baptist testified to, that calls to us this moment: with the greatest gift of all: our eternal salvation.