Dear Friends in Christ:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This Sunday we celebrate Gaudete (gow–DET-eh) Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for “rejoice.” It is always the third Sunday in the Advent season. On this day we light the rose- colored candle on the Advent wreath. In some liturgical traditions the priest wears rose colored vestments and the altar has rose paraments. Like Gaudete Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent is designated as Laetare Sunday which also means to rejoice.
We celebrate with joy and gladness the promise of Christ’s return and the completion of God’s kingdom. The joy we experience comes from Christ’s command “to love one another.” It is not forced but the joy experienced comes from within with no conditions. We love because Christ loved us first.
We are God’s people immersed in the love of Christ – fully forgiven and blessed with the promise of eternal life.
Let us consider the abundance of blessings poured out upon us and how we in thanksgiving return those blessings in our love for one another.
God loves us! God with us! Blessed Advent!
Your Servant in Christ,
Father Dave+