3rd Week of Advent: WISH
The third week of Advent means Gaudete Sunday! It's joy week friends! Why is it called "Gaudete Sunday"? Well, the entrance antiphon (opening song) for Gaudete Sunday, in both the Traditional Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo, is taken from Philippians 4:4,5: "Gaudete in Domino semper" ("Rejoice in the Lord always"). There's your Latin lesson for the day!
Today's theme is WISH. What do you wish for? What does your heart desire the most?
In this week's first reading we read a little bit about what Israel was wishing for:
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners,
The prophet Isaiah is giving Israel hope that God hasn't forgotten about them. Israel was waiting for their Messiah- the one who would care for the poorest of the poor, who would bring them back to Jerusalem, who would make all their wishes come true! The best part? God made a promise to Israel and to us, that he would make our wishes come true.
Again, what is it that you wish for? What does your heart desire the most? Belonging? Patience? Love?
Will Christ's birth on Christmas make that wish come true?
