Moses’ mission had taken him quite a distance . . . from the splendor of Pharaoh’s palace, to a stroll through the Red Sea, to wrestling with Israel’s stubbornness for forty years in the desert. How sad that he never made it across the Jordan! But God did give him a moment of consolation. He brought him up to the […]
Gaudete Sunday
John the Baptist Teaches us about Hope
On the third Sunday of Advent, the penitential purple of the season changes to rose and we celebrate “Gaudete” or “Rejoice!” Sunday. “Shout for joy, daughter of Sion” says Zephaniah. “Draw water joyfully from the font of salvation,” says Isaiah. “Rejoice in the Lord always,” says St. Paul. “Do penance for the judge is coming,” says John the Baptist. Wait […]
Rejoice! The Lord is Near
Gaudete Sunday has always been my favorite Sunday. Growing up, I loved lighting the rose candle in our Advent wreath, and it was usually the weekend we would decorate the house for Christmas. There’s also the bonus of it being the Sunday closest to my birthday. Every year, it was easy for me to obey the Church’s command: “Rejoice!” […]