Rejoice!!!

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near”. (Phil 4, 4-5)

This is a very special Sunday. Traditionally we call this Sunday – Gaudete – Rejoice!!!

Why? Because the Lord is near.

What does it mean? He is coming to save you.

The Bible’s language is very detailed and precise: “the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will be cleared, the lame will leap like a stag, the tongue of the mute will sing”. (Is 35, 5 – 6).

It is as if God wanted to cover all our daily life situations: when we can’t see the way out of a difficult situation, when no one is telling us how beautiful and important we are and that we are loved so much, when we have no place to go, no one is waiting for us impatiently, because they’ve missed us, and finally we will have courage to tell the others how much we love them, even if we run the risk of rejection.

Today’s Sunday reminds me of the picture I once saw. It showed heaven. God the Father was standing on the cloud and looking at the Earth. On His face there was so much feeling. And He repeated – I love them so much…

Behind Him there were two Angels. And one, looking at this situation, made a comment to another one – “He can continue like that all  day long.”

This is Advent. We are waiting until it appears in our life. So the Apostle reminds: “ You must be patient. Make your heart firm … because the coming of the Lord is at hand”. (James 5, 7,9).

During our Advent he is sending His “messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you” (Mt 11, 10).

It was John the Baptist, it was any of the saints, it was Juan Diego and Juan Pablo. And it could be you – your smile, your help, your good word and prayer, your heartfelt compassion can change this Advent into a very special time – when Gods promises are really at hand. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.” (from Alleluia)

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near”. (Phil 4, 4-5)