On a day when the weather is moody; the news from D.C. is gloomy; and John the Baptist’s disciples ask Jesus, “Are you the one or do we look elsewhere.” comes Gaudete Sunday – Rejoice Sunday.  The third Sunday in Advent.  The Sunday of the pink candle.

“Rejoice,” St. Paul writes to the Philippians.  And in case they didn’t get it the first time, “Again, I say rejoice.”  “Sing aloud! Shout!” the Prophet Zephaniah calls to us across the ages, “Rejoice and exult with all your heart.”

Why all this rejoicing, shouting and exulting?  Because, in the words of Psalm 85, it’s the time when “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss.”  While “faithfulness springs up from the ground, righteousness looks down from the sky.”  And wherever you go, righteousness will lead the way breaking a path for you on your walk-through life.

The One for whom you look, the Pathbreaker is nearly here, and it is to him we pray,

Lord Jesus Christ we beseech you to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness in our heart by your grace-filled visit.  For it you who live and reign with the Father and Holy Spirit, one united God, now and forever.

Gaudete – Rejoice