Suffering With Joy

Gaudete

The Preaching of St. John the Baptist, c. 1690, Baciccio, oil on canvas, Musée du Louvre, Paris

This past Sunday was the third Sunday in Advent called “Gaudete” because both the Introit and the Epistle are from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, 4:4:  Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I say rejoice.… (1962 liturgical books)

I love this Sunday when the priest wears rose-colored vestments (not pink, please) as also on “Laetare” Sunday in Lent. The organ plays and flowers deck the altar. The penitential somberness of Advent is suspended for the day.

I also love what St. Paul says: “And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sometimes it is hard to do this, especially when one is sick and suffering, or has family problems, or is bereaved. But Holy Mother Church gives us the big pointing arrow in the Gospel of the day: John 1:19-28  where we have the Pharisees questioning John the Baptist about who he is.

John answers, vs. 26: “John answered them, saying: I baptize with water; but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not.” I have to examine my own conscience on this verse.  How many times have I been unable to recognize Jesus when he was in my midst?  Why could I not see Him for Who He is?  How Pharisaic am I?  That’s the trouble with us humans – we get so tied up in our own pains and issues we fail to see Jesus giving us the gift of Himself through the very suffering we want to reject. Yet he is right there, patiently waiting for our blind eyes to see. If we recognize Him, we will have “the peace of God which surpasseth all understanding.”

The Communion verse is from Isaiah: 35:4. “Say: Ye fainthearted, take courage and fear not: behold our God will come and will save us.” This week and forevermore I must concentrate on what this past Sunday’s liturgy said to me:

Life is learning to “rejoice in the Lord always,” to keep our “hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord”, to truly see Him in our midst, to bless Him for loving us, to take courage for He has saved us, and to thank Him for all He sends us.

Tags: liturgy, peace and joy, suffering

No comments yet.

Leave a comment

Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website Message

CAPTCHA Code