The Word of the Day is Joy

Sisters! Happy Gaudete Sunday! Have you been to Mass yet today? Have you seen your priest in his rose-colored vestments or lit the rose-colored candle in your own Advent wreath? Will you or your family members wear that same color to Mass to honor this special day in the Church year? Have you read today's readings proclaiming j-o-y to the rooftops?

It's so easy to gloss over Gaudete Sunday as just another Sunday in Advent, but its meaning is just too profound not to celebrate. The message of the Scriptures today is that our waiting and pondering this Advent is almost at an end. We long for the birth of our sweet Jesus and the readings of the Mass today make it clear: The Lord is near. Take heart! Be joyful!

"The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in His love" (Zephaniah 3:17).

Today's readings remind us that Jesus comes to save each of us. Not as a collective hodge-podge of humanity, but for you and for me as His beloved daughters. He knows our worries and sorrows in this Advent season. He knows our timid hopes for Christmas and the New Year. He sees our hearts and rejoices over us, all of us—the joyful parts and the not so joyful parts. And He whispers,

"I'm in your midst. I'm almost here."

Let's not allow this beautiful day of joy to slip away from us without being honored and acknowledged. In just nine days our hearts will awaken to Christmas morn, when the whole world is made new by His birth.

But we're not there yet. For now, let's rest in today's "Gaudete!" that He is near, and He is on the way.

Let's rest in today's Click to tweet

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Karen Schultz hails from the Land of 10,000 lakes, where she is often found in or near one of them. As a doula, lactation educator, and FertilityCare Practitioner, she finds joy in helping women to embrace the gift of their bodies. Downtime is found in quiet adoration chapels, farmers markets and gardens, listening to bluegrass music, and embracing the diversity of Minnesota’s seasons. You can find out more about her here.