Rejoice In The Lord, Always!
Third Sunday in Advent
First of all I would like to thank you so much for all your support in the celebration of Our Lady Guadalupe. I was impressed by the huge crowds we had especially for the evening mass with the presentation of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was very beautiful! This Sunday we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent also known as Gaudete Dominus in Latin which means Joy Sunday. The name of the day comes from the letter of Paul to the Philippians “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.” For this reason, one of the special characteristics of this Sunday is the rose color in liturgical ornaments and the candle of the Advent wreath. “Gaudete” is the word’s imperative form. We are commanded to rejoice.
“As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord God make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.” Isaiah 61:11
The readings for this Sunday are also an invitation to rejoice in the Lord not just today, not tomorrow but—always! One of my favorite spiritual writers, Henri Nouwen, described the difference between joy and happiness. While happiness is dependent on external conditions, joy is “the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing — sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death — can take that love away.” Thus joy can be present even in the midst of sadness. It is this joy in the Lord that nothing can take away from us. So, rejoice in the Lord always; again I said rejoice!
God bless you,
Fr. Abel Loera, Pastor
Readings for the Week
Monday: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25
Tuesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25
Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6; Lk 1:26-38
Thursday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45
Friday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56
Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lk 1:57-66
Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent
Thursday: St. Peter Canisius; Winter begins
Saturday: St. John of Kanty