Today,
is a turning point in the season of Advent, it is the halfway mark,
as it were, between this two-fold preparation that we have begun, for
whereas our preparation has been for the Second Coming of Christ,
today and for the rest of the weeks to come, we now direct our
preparation to His birth.
This is why we call it “Gaudete” or “Rejoice” Sunday, and why our readings have a more festive and less ominous feel to them.That too, is why one of the candles on the Advent wreath is a different color, a rose color and why, if they are available, priests are permitted to wear rose-colored vestments, something, believe it or not, I tried very hard to find, which is why it was given to me as a gift from my previous parish, because not only does it underscore this jubilation, it also means something else as well.
In fact, I never really understood, like a lot of priests, why out of all the colors in the world, it was rose that was chosen, yet it was only after really searching that I finally found the answer, and discovered a pretty powerful reason for using this color.
If you have ever gotten up really early in the morning, before the sun rises, and looked at the horizon, you will notice that while everything around is still dark, there is a very faint light from the sun, yet, as the sun slowly rises, the color of the sky changes from black, to a shade of violet, to a shade of pink, or more properly put, rose color.
So, that, as the sun begins to rise, the very color of the sky changes, and as the light draws closer this transition becomes all the more evident.
That is what is happening today, liturgically, we are demonstrating that the light of Christ is, indeed, drawing closer, that the darkness is slowly fading and the anticipation is, growing. We are, literally, replicating that same transition, so that the dark shade of purple is giving way to rose, which will eventually turn to white, because the light on the horizon is coming, and it is signaling the very promise of a brand new day.
This is why one of the Advent hymns we sing is “People Look East,” because it is in the East that the sun rises, it is in the East that the light of Christ will dawn, and a new hope will break forth, it is in the East, where we anticipate His return.
This is why we call it “Gaudete” or “Rejoice” Sunday, and why our readings have a more festive and less ominous feel to them.That too, is why one of the candles on the Advent wreath is a different color, a rose color and why, if they are available, priests are permitted to wear rose-colored vestments, something, believe it or not, I tried very hard to find, which is why it was given to me as a gift from my previous parish, because not only does it underscore this jubilation, it also means something else as well.
In fact, I never really understood, like a lot of priests, why out of all the colors in the world, it was rose that was chosen, yet it was only after really searching that I finally found the answer, and discovered a pretty powerful reason for using this color.
If you have ever gotten up really early in the morning, before the sun rises, and looked at the horizon, you will notice that while everything around is still dark, there is a very faint light from the sun, yet, as the sun slowly rises, the color of the sky changes from black, to a shade of violet, to a shade of pink, or more properly put, rose color.
So, that, as the sun begins to rise, the very color of the sky changes, and as the light draws closer this transition becomes all the more evident.
That is what is happening today, liturgically, we are demonstrating that the light of Christ is, indeed, drawing closer, that the darkness is slowly fading and the anticipation is, growing. We are, literally, replicating that same transition, so that the dark shade of purple is giving way to rose, which will eventually turn to white, because the light on the horizon is coming, and it is signaling the very promise of a brand new day.
This is why one of the Advent hymns we sing is “People Look East,” because it is in the East that the sun rises, it is in the East that the light of Christ will dawn, and a new hope will break forth, it is in the East, where we anticipate His return.
In
fact, Isaiah, in our first reading puts it beautifully, he says a
desert and barren land will not only rejoice at the glory of the
Lord, but bloom with abundant flowers, and that those who are afraid
will become strong in the Lord, those who are blind will see, those
who are deaf will hear, and the lame, those unable to walk, will not
just walk but leap, and those who cannot speak will not only speak
again but be able to sing.
This is why there is, indeed, cause for rejoicing, this is why with everything we have, with every ounce of energy in our soul, we are to be filled with joy and gladness, because, truly Christ is coming, in our midst and in our hearts.
And, while we anticipate His return, as it says in our second reading, we are also to observe patience, knowing, that as the farmer learned, it is, indeed, patience that makes the wait worth it, it is patience that allows us to be properly prepared for His return.
This is why there is, indeed, cause for rejoicing, this is why with everything we have, with every ounce of energy in our soul, we are to be filled with joy and gladness, because, truly Christ is coming, in our midst and in our hearts.
And, while we anticipate His return, as it says in our second reading, we are also to observe patience, knowing, that as the farmer learned, it is, indeed, patience that makes the wait worth it, it is patience that allows us to be properly prepared for His return.
And
the best way to prepare for that return is to spend time with Him
now, because while these readings remind us of the miracles that are
possible with the Lord, what we await is the greatest miracle that
has already occurred and still exists on this altar and in that
tabernacle, because the mere fact that bread can become Jesus, Body,
Blood, Soul and Divinity, is a miracle in itself and when we come
before that
miracle, kneeling before Him as the Shepherds, as the angels did over
2,000 years ago, it cannot but help cause miracles in our own lives,
which, indeed, should give all of us true cause for rejoicing.
This is why in this season of preparation, in this season of waiting, while we wait for Him, He is already waiting for us, therefore, maybe today we might pay Him a visit and experience the true joy of Christmas, the true joy that Advent leads us to, the silence of that Christ-child dwelling on the altar or in that tabernacle and He who seeks to, ultimately, find a home in the mangers of all of our hearts.
This is why in this season of preparation, in this season of waiting, while we wait for Him, He is already waiting for us, therefore, maybe today we might pay Him a visit and experience the true joy of Christmas, the true joy that Advent leads us to, the silence of that Christ-child dwelling on the altar or in that tabernacle and He who seeks to, ultimately, find a home in the mangers of all of our hearts.
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