Well I'm falling behind in the timely relevance of my posts; but since we're still in "the pink week," I figure it's not too late to talk about Gaudete Sunday (aka the third Sunday of Advent, aka "the pink one").
The word "Gaudete" is Latin for "rejoice". And Gaudete Sunday is so named because it is a day on which we pause from the anticipation and penance of Advent and to briefly look forward to the nearness of Christ's arrival. The first and second readings on this day speak of great rejoicing and exultation, for the Lord is drawing near. This is also the reason for the color rose (yes, rose; no, not pink...it just is). The color is one of joy and is meant to be a brief diversion from the otherwise violet (no, not purple...) color of Advent because violet is a sign of penance. The rose-colored candle is therefore lit as a sign of the great joy we experience at the closeness of the arrival of our King.
All of this is to serve as a reminder that even though Advent is a time of penance and preparation, the end for which we are preparing is not an occasion of doom and gloom but is a time of great joy. Christ's arrival is not meant to be a mournful experience. This is the coming of our King, Who is coming to set us free. So the time of penance and preparation are not because we are mournful or gloomy or just looking for an excuse to beat ourselves up. It is all about preparing our hearts to receive our King.
This Sunday, the fourth and last Sunday of Advent, we hear in the Gospel about John the Baptist leaping for joy in his mother's womb at the presence of Our Lady and of the child Jesus in her womb. That is the spirit that we are called to imitate. John recognizes, even in his mother's womb, the presence of His King. May we too greet our King with the same uncontainable joy, for He is coming to set us free from all that would hold us captive...that's an awful lot.
Pax Vobiscum
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