On this "Rejoice" (Gaudete) Sunday, St. Paul tells us to "rejoice in the Lord always. The prophet, Zephaniah urges us to "shout for joy....sing joyfully....be glad and exult with all your heart." (Zeph 3:14). John the Baptist. when asked, "What should we do?" (Lk 3:10) gives advice that is practical, doable, simple: e.g. "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." (Lk 3: 11). All three advise us not to fear, for the Lord is near. No need for anxiety, discouragement, or stress. "The Lord God is in your midst,/ a mighty savior;/ he will rejoice over you with gladness,/ and renew you in his love,/ he will sing joyfully because of you,/as one sings at festivals." (Zeph 3:17-18). Yes, our Emmanuel is with us, embracing us, offering us the healing of his loving-kindness. It's no big secret how to experience this....keeping it simple, as John points out...don't cheat employers....be satisfied with your wages. If we look at the way we do the ordinary things of everyday life, we can make holy gifts out of them by doing them well, by being thorough....finishing a task or job as best we can....and by doing them as acts of love.
Making that cup of coffee...offering a cup to another...cleaning up after someone else...the opportunities abound. Let's make this a real "Rejoice Day" not by doing something extraordinary, but by doing the ordinary, extraordinary well. as Mother Teresa and others have put it.
Bro. Rene
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