St. Joseph of the Lakes

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.” 1 Thes 5:16-24

In his 2014 Gaudete Sunday homily, Pope Francis said that Gaudete Sunday is known as the "Sunday of joy", and that instead of fretting about "all they still haven't" done to prepare for Christmas, people should "think of all the good things life has given you."  On this Gaudete Sunday the Pope’s words are a good reminder to us. Yes, Christmas is near and there is probably baking, tree and house decorating, present buying, and meal preparation yet to be done. By now most of those who send out Christmas cards will have done so, but there are still those who do not send their cards until after we celebrate Christmas Day. There are invitations to make and to respond to. There are parties and gatherings that fill our days. I am probably missing other anxiety producing Christmas expectations yet in all of this today we pause to thank God for all that He has done for us. What we are preparing to truly celebrate is found in Paul’s words today: The one who calls you is faithful, and He will also accomplish it. We celebrate a God who has entered our world for the sake of our salvation.  He has come to preserve us blamelessly for His final coming.  

The introit of today’s Mass tells us: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. Lord, you have blessed your land; you have turned away the captivity of Jacob " (which is constructed from - Philippians 4:4–6; and Psalm 85 (84):1).