Third Sunday of Advent

I’m not exactly sure why, but lighting that pink candle was always a special day when I was a kid. I don’t know if it was because I liked pink or if it was because it meant Christmas was getting closer!

This week’s second reading contained one of my favorite bible verses from 1 Thessalonians: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” This verse always seems to come up in my life at times when it feels the hardest to be ‘rejoicing always.’

As we prepare for Christmas this year, everything feels different. There are no Christmas Plays, no Christmas Parties, and the prospect of having family get togethers isn’t looking good. It’s getting harder and harder to give thanks in all of our circumstances.

My thought process began to change as Father started his homily. He asked the congregation who among us has never experienced joy. I don’t think any hands went up. Then he asked us, “Where do you find joy?” Understandably, this was a much harder question – ESPECIALLY during this time of uncertainty.

Then Father talked about having the ability to hold a newborn baby and all the joy it brings. How true is that? I’m not sure that there’s much more in life more precious that holding a brand new human. He noted that even though that baby is going to cry and going to need to be cared for and going to need to be changed, you are not only holding that baby. You are holding all of that baby’s hopes. You are holding all of that baby’s dreams.

You are holding everything that baby is ever going to be.

It got me thinking about this year, especially this current time that we are having a hard time getting through. The holiday season is usually a source of stress for a lot of people. This year a lot of the things that cause us stress have been taken away from us due to COVID, but we aren’t left with more time to enjoy with our friends and family. Instead, we are left with more time apart from each other. It’s hard. It sucks. It does. However, just like the crying and the changing and the caring for – there’s more to the story.

Right around the corner, we have a brand new year coming. We know there will be more crying, more changing, more caring for – there always is. That’s life. What we need to remember is this – that’s not all we’re holding. We’re holding all of our hopes. We’re holding all of our dreams. We’re holding all we’ll be in this upcoming year.

Keeping this in mind – I think I’ll continue to pray without ceasing. There are many reasons to always rejoice. Even during these trying circumstances, I’m going to think about the upcoming new year and give thanks – because THAT is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

Have a great week – and see you back here next Sunday.