St. John The Baptist

Browsing A message from Father Mark

December 13,2020

3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT  B

Rejoice always!  On the Sunday that we light our joy candle, our readings remind us – St Paul goes so far as to command us – to rejoice…always.  Whenever I hear those words anymore, I have to confess that my immediate response is kind of cynical.

Rejoice!  Yes, I suppose when there’s something good to rejoice about.  But, rejoice always?  That makes no sense.  Why would I rejoice when something terrible happens?  St Paul continues; give thanks in all circumstances.  Why would anyone rejoice or give thanks in the face of tragedy?  In the face of evil?  In the face of violence?  In the face of death and loss?

How, in light of what is happening in our world do we make sense of Paul’s words?  You’d think that Paul lived in some kind of bubble; that he wrote those words in an ivory tower…But he didn’t.  He wrote those words while he was in prison.  He faced the violence of enemies and the rejection of friends.

And so his words are not empty clichés spoken by someone who has no idea what he’s talking about.  Paul knew what it was like to suffer and it was during this suffering, in the midst of grief and heartache that Paul said, rejoice always. 

I think for St Paul, to rejoice is to walk in the dark valley even though your eyes are filled with tears – because you know in your heart that God is with you.

Advent is that time of year when we’re reminded to rejoice even when our hearts are weighed down by sadness and grief.  Advent reminds us to not let our circumstances keep us from seeing God, to not let our circumstances cause us to turn our backs on God.

Keep praying.  Keep trusting.  Keep seeking the face of God.  God is nearest in the most difficult times.  In times when God may seem most silent, our prayers keep us focused on the reality that Christ became flesh and lived among us.  Advent is the season that encourages us to pray even when we don’t feel like praying.

God knows what fear and suffering are like.  God knows what it’s like because God became flesh and lived among us.  God knows what it’s like because God has gone through the same kinds of things that we go through.  God knows what it’s like and God is with us, bringing light into the darkness.

We weep – with God – over the violence in the world, over injustice and illness, over tragedy and death.  But even while we weep, we give thanks.  We give thanks and rejoice that God is with us in our tears.  We rejoice that God’s light is stronger than the darkest dark.  We rejoice that the light of Christ shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.

Like Isaiah – rejoice heartily in the Lord.  Like Mary – let your spirit rejoice in God our savior.  And like Paul – rejoice always!  May we all be filled every day with joy in our God.

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